Cork school to get permanent home

Michael Olney

A recently established Cork secondary school has been granted permission to purchase a site which will become its new permanent home.

Le Chéile Secondary School in Ballincollig, which has been at a temporary premises since it opened in September 2021, recently shared the news that An Bord Pleanála has approved a site for purchase at Lisheens in Ballincollig.

The school will be built through the Accelerated Delivery of Architectural Planning and Tendering (ADAPT) programme.

A spokesperson for the school said an external project manager has been appointed to co-ordinate and drive the design team to achieve the best possible timeframe during the stages of architectural planning. This will ensure the timeframe is as short as possible.

The new building will have a floor area of 10,581m2 with 37 general classrooms, 6 science laboratories, 3 science prep areas, 2 art/craft rooms, 2 home economics rooms, a textiles room, 4 construction/engineering/technology rooms, 2 technology prep rooms, a design/communication graphics room, a music room, and 2 multimedia rooms.

Other facilities will include a library, locker areas, pupil relaxation areas, a meditation room, 16 offices for various staff, a general office, 6 hard play court areas, a PE hall, pitch areas, 92 car parking spaces, 6 additional educational needs (AEN) base rooms all including a safe space, an AEN central activity space, an AEN multi-activity room, an AEN practical activity, and a sensory garden.

In a letter sent to students’ parents, School Principal Nicola Barrett wrote: “We very much look forward to providing top class facilities for both our current and future students. Thank you for placing your trust in us to provide your child with their secondary school education, especially given the uncertainty we have had over these initial years. Your continued support is appreciated.”