Cork East Fine Gael TD, David Stanton has welcomed the news that Kilcredan National School have got the approval of the Department of Education and Skills to apply for planning permission for the proposed extension and development of the school. The extension will include new classrooms, a library, a staff room and an all-purpose hall.
“I understand that Kilcredan National School and their design team have been advised by the Department of Education that they can now seek planning permission and apply for fire safety and disability access certificates. Once these have been obtained, the school will be in a position to seek tenders for construction.
“Kilcredan National School was constructed in the 1970s and not a lot of refurbishment works have been carried out since then. When the school was built is was an amalgamation of three small local primary schools from the two nearby villages of Ballymacoda and Ladysbridge, however, rapid population growth in this area of East Cork over the past decade has meant a huge surge in demand for school places.
“I understand that a detailed extension plan was first submitted to the Department of Education by Kilcredan school in 2005 but the huge demand for places meant these initial plans needed to be revised. New plans were submitted in 2007 for a larger extension which would cater for a 12 classroom school. The school has been operating at absolute full capacity since 2007 and presently half the school is in prefabs. Without these building works, the school will simply not be able to meet future demand.
“Kilcredan is an outstanding school with more than 250 pupils. The board of management, staff, parents of children and the local community have shown a tremendous level of support or this project. Local support is so great that €220,000 has been raised to date through various fundraising activities. I am delighted that all this work will not be in vain and that the school’s extension plans are progressing. These works are essential for the future success of the school.
ENDS
