Approval being sought for new school building in Birr

Plans for a new school building for Gaelscoil na Laochra in Birr have taken a major step forward this week. Laois and Offaly Education and Training Board has signalled its intention to seek planning permission for a new school building at a greenfield site off the N52 in Birr.

Gaelscoil na Laochra in Birr has been in temporary accommodation since it opened its doors in 2015 and is currently based in Sandymount Haven, in a leased building.

When it opened, it was the first multi denominational, co-educational school in Offaly. The patronage and ethos of the school was chosen by the people of Birr and its surrounding areas following a consultation process by the Department of Education.

The saga over a promised new school has continued since the school's foundation seven years go. Planning permission for a new school had been place for a building in the centre of Birr but it has since expired. Now, the LOETB has begun the planning process for the new building, which will include four classrooms, a Special Education Needs base, a general-purpose hall, and ancillary teaching space and services. There will be a new access road and an entrance off the new distributor road being constructed near Lidl to link the Tullamore Road (N52) at Woodlands and the Birr to Banagher Road at Cappaneale (R439).