PHOTOS: Laois special needs school seeking new planning approval

The long awaited new Kolbe Special School in Laois is now under construction, but a new planning application has just been lodged for a secondary building on site. 

Principal of Kolbe Special School Orlagh Mahon gave an update to the Leinster Express / Laois Live, while also confirming the new planning application for the Portlaoise based school.

"We are delighted with the application for the storage because of all the equipment for the children. We knew of the need at the start but we had to go back to the Department with a separate application. 

Inside the new school under construction. Photos: Kolbe Special School

"We're delighted with how things are going. It's all going very well and according to plan. Everything is on schedule. We were there last week for a site visit and it's absolutely fabulous," Ms Mahon said.

The new school is expected to be complete by Christmas 2025.

Architect's drawing of the new school.

The timeline for the construction of the new school is 18 months. Work began in May 2024.

The Board of Management of Kolbe Special School Portlaoise has lodged the new application to Laois County Council for permission to add a large storage facility. 

They say that the single-storey external equipment storage facility will measure 45 Sqm. They also request permission to move a smaller single-storey bin store that was previously approved permission. Both structures are to serve the new Kolbe Special School. Development includes all associated connections and site works on an overall site area of approx. 1.4 hectares

The spacious new Kolbe school will still have eight classrooms, but with the special rooms and facilities needed, including a hydrotherapy pool room, a library, a soft play room, a big GP room, occupational therapy room, multi sensory room, daily living skills room, home economics room, a parents meeting room, three medical rooms, and storage space for the multiple equipment needed by the children.

Read more about Kolbe Special School here. 

The specially designed new school in Portlaoise cares for 43 children aged 5 to 18 with severe to profound disabilities.

The children and staff rely on cramped, damp prefab classrooms attached to a much smaller outdated building next door to the new site. It has no PE Hall or sensory room due to lack of space.

The new school was first proposed a quarter of a century ago. Parents and teachers held a passionate campaign in recent years to make it a reality. The site encountered many delays before building work could start.

See drone footage of the new school under construction here.