Roscommon County Council’s decision to grant planning for a major six classroom and car-park extension at Tarmon National School near Castlerea has been appealed in a 66-page document lodged with An Bord Pleanála.
In December, the school’s Board of Management was granted permission by the local authority to build a single storey extension at the rear of the existing school, to comprise one special educational needs (SEN) classroom, an early intervention classroom, three mainstream classrooms and a multi-sensory room.
The plans for the school also include an office, the provision of additional car parking spaces, and permission was also sought for the retention of an existing temporary car park.
On January 17th the council decision was appealed in one appeal to An Bord Pleanála. The plans have been objected to on thirteen grounds, which are contained in a 66-page document lodged with the planning appeals authority.
Among the objections are that the additional accommodation proposed is not required.
“That school places remain unfilled in all other primary schools in the catchment area suggest there are adequate school places in the locality to alleviate the overcrowding situation in Tarmon National School,” say the appellants.
Car-parking issues, further traffic congestion, current and future projections of pupil numbers and overdevelopment of the school site are also cited in detail in the appeal document.
The Board of Management’s original planning documents outlined the planning history of the school, which is located five kilometres from Castlerea town.
The original two classroom school was built in 1890 and there have been four extensions to the school in the last 25 years.
In 2009, the school opened a new gym and classroom, a resource room and a refurbished computer room while in December 2018, three classes for children with autism and another mainstream classroom was built.
This extension also included a sensory room, a central activities area, a staff room, and a meeting room at the school.
An Bord Pleanála is due to decide on the case by May 21st next.
