Plans for a new ASD unit
THE Board of Management for Moneystown National School are seeking permission to construct a special education facility in the form of a single class Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) unit.
The application has already been approved by the Department of Education and Skills and McAulay Rice Architects are responsible for the preparation of the drawings and plans.
In a cover letter submitted to Wicklow County Council as part of the planning application, Moneystown Principal Mary Tallon states: ‘ This facility will serve the needs of pupils who are already attending our school and those with special needs who may attend in the future. There will not be an increase in numbers enrolled as a result of this extension. Given the nature of this application, i.e. addressing the needs of children with special needs, we would be very grateful if you could give this your immediate attention.’
No additional student numbers are proposed and therefore no upgrade services are required. The new facilities are standards required for existing and future students.
The application seeks permission for a new 102m2 extension to the front of the existing school to create a new entrance and lobby area, as well as ancillary rooms for the purpose of the provision of a new sensory type classroom to the front of school.
It also includes a proposed 145m2 extension to the rear of the school to provide for a new classroom and staff room area and the conversion of an existing external courtyard circa 25m2 to be roofed over to create a new library space.
The application also seeks modifications to existing layout and elevations for the provision of the new proposals and a proposed canopy to new entrance area. A new enclosed soft play area and all associated site works and landscaping is proposed, as well as an extension to existing parking area.
A decision on the planning application by Wicklow County Council is expected by July 18.