Ballygarrett NS is given green light to extend school
Ballygarrett National School has been given the green light to construct a standalone single storey extension to increase the facilities available to the pupils.
Principal Niall Madden, who sits on the board of management, said the extension will be solely used as a library and computer room for the 228 pupils who currently attend the school.
‘Last year we were under a bit of pressure for space so we had to disassemble our former library and computer room to transform it into a classroom,’ said Mr Madden.
He said that the student body has been increasing over the past number of years.
‘We saw a peak in pupils in 2017 and made the decision to apply for permission.’
This will be the third extension in recent years at the school, with works previously carried out in 2012 and 2015.
Mr Madden said their next goal is to improve road safety at the school especially at peak times given the high volume of traffic in the area.
‘We have approached Wexford County Council to see what advice they could give us to address the traffic situation in the morning and afternoon times,’ said Mr Madden.
‘We have 15 car park spaces and over 150 cars come to us on a daily basis, it is very dangerous.’
Mr Madden said that in some cases families are dropping their children off in the village to walk to the school, but there is only one footpath.
‘It’s lethal and we need to do something before something serious happens,’ added Mr Madden.
Mr Madden said Ballygarrett is a popular area for families to relocate to and they have seen a spike in numbers over the last three years. He said that students from outside the immediate area also attend the school having previously lived in the area.
‘Their parents are forced to move outside of Ballygarrett because the landlord decide to sell up because of the current economy, knowing houses here will get a good price because of the location,’ said Mr Madden. ‘They move to Camolin, Castletown, or even further, but the kids still attend our school.’