Gaelscoil seeks planning permission

A GAELSCOIL which lost a crucial rezoning vote for a new school has been forced to apply again for temporary planning permission for its “ramshackle” buildings.

The board of management of Gaelscoil an Ghort Alainn on Cork’s northside has lodged the application with the city council just weeks after city councillors voted against rezoning a portion of the Tank Field which would have paved the way for the construction of a new school.

The school is seeking temporary permission for its existing buildings for a period of four years. It was previously granted permission in 2002 and, again, in 2005.

Following years of lobbying by the school, the city council reached agreement with the Department of Education that would have seen the local authority provide a 2.3-acre spot in the corner of the publicly-owned 10-acre Tank Field sports ground.

The Department of Education drew up plans for an ultra-modern two-storey 16-classroom school to replace the existing school and a planning application was lodged.

Councillors then had to rezone the site from sports ground zoning to allow the project to proceed but 13 councillors decided to vote against this last month.

The vote effectively condemned the school’s 300 students to continue being taught in what the school principal has described as “ramshackle” conditions.

It also emerged yesterday that the Department of Education has appealed the council’s decision not to grant planning permission.