‘Strong possibility’ €3.9m school in Fermoy will be opened by Christmas

A community group in Fermoy, Co Cork, has said it is “relieved and delighted in equal measure” that there have been no objections to the planning permission for a new €3.9m school for the town. 

The Gaelscoil de hÍde Action Group yesterday announced An Board Pleanála did not receive any observations from the public in the one-month grace period since Cork County Council gave the green light for the project, and they expect work to start on the new school next month.

The three-storey, 24-classroom gaelscoil on a two-hectare site in Duntahane will come following years of protest at the crowded conditions in the existing school on the main street in the centre of Fermoy.

“The prospect of our children being in their new school by Christmas of 2016 is still a strong possibility,” a statement from the Gaelscoil de hÍde Action Group read.

The group said the new facility would make a “life changing” difference to the pupils of the school.

“These new facilities will enable our students to thrive,” it said.

“And our teachers, who are already delivering an excellent standard of education on a daily basis, can plan and do their work without concerns about class size, safety and resources.

“The children will be able to exercise freely — remember a partial ban on running in the playground is imposed at the current school premises because of safety concerns.

“For the first time the toilet facilities will be appropriate, children won’t have to be educated in cramped attic space or portable buildings and road safety issues for children coming to and leaving school will be completely reduced.”

The group also thanked principal Sean MacGearailt and some local representatives for their work towards the new school.