Increasing pupil numbers prompts new longwood school extension

The board of management at St Nicholas' Primary School in Longwood has applied for planning permission to build an additional four classrooms and two learning support rooms to accommodate increased demand for school places.

The school, which currently boasts 12 classrooms, opened its doors in 2009 when it replaced the old national school. The 17-teacher school currently accommodates 335 students at its site on the Enfield Road.

A decision is due from Meath County Council by 26th October with construction scheduled to commence before Christmas should the project clear the planning hurdle. Provided there are no delays, the new classrooms could be in use in September 2015.

According to John Smyth, principal at St Nicholas' Primary School, the need for the extension is driven by a steady increase in pupil population in Longwood and the surrounding areas.

'When we initially moved into the school we had four vacant classrooms, but they are all occupied now,' Mr Smyth said. 'We have gone from occupying eight classrooms in 2009 to 12 classrooms in 2014, and now with the planned extension, a possibility of 16 over the next few years.'

However, it took many years from initiation to completion when planning for the new school, Mr Smyth added.

'In the intervening period, population increases can sometimes surpass the most generous of population projections,' he said. 'At the time of the original plans, we envisaged that we would have had a generous amount of classrooms for extra children, if needed.'

St Nicholas' Primary School isn't the only school in south Meath forced to deal with increased demand for places in recent years.

St Mary's National School in Enfield, which opened in 2012, also received funding in December 2013 for an extension under the Government's €2 billion school building plan to facilitate additional students.