A “significant” extension of an Ennis secondary school is due to be completed for the beginning of the next school year.
In a unique cross-school partnership, the 30,000 square foot develpment at St. Flannan’s College will accommodate the student population of a local primary school until the primary school’s new school building is in place.
In January of this year, management at St. Flannan’s College welcomed the news that the former boarding school would become the largest school in Munster as its enrollment figures for the 2024/25 school year reached 1,280.
On foot of this, plans were revealed for the creation of additional classroom space, the hiring of additional teachers and various other enhancements of the school’s offering.
Now, following a successful planning application and Department of Education approval, work is underway on a 30,000 square foot extension on the school’s campus.
Described as a “rapid-build project”, the new building is expected to be “largely completed” by September 2025 and will consist of three science laboratories, six special educational needs classrooms and a technology room.
The school has also noted that existing accommodation will also be reconfigured for classrooms.
Once built, the first students to avail of the new building won’t be from St. Flannan’s but rather from Knockanean National School as its 297 pupils will be accommodated there until their approved new national school is built.
Approval has been granted for the latter development which will consist of a two-storey building on the site of the existing school.
