Major upgrade planned for two Roscommon schools

Planning permission is being sought for a major upgrade of two of the county town's schools, Roscommon Community College and Gaelscoil de Híde.

A planning application by the Galway Roscommon Education and Training Board for Roscommon Community College to build a single storey, 21 classroom extension to the West Gable of the existing school block has been submitted.

This extension will include special education needs classrooms, admin offices, a general purpose hall, and associated ancillary spaces. There will be a standalone PE hall and changing block, sporting facilities and ball courts. The plan will require the demolition of five out-buildings, and fire safety upgrades to the existing school block.

Furthermore, there will be a separate single storey building to the west of the site to accommodate the relocation of Gaelscoil de Híde. A nine classroom school building, it will include one special education needs classroom, admin offices, a general purpose hall and associated ancillary spaces, as well as alterations to the existing junction of Thornfield Drive and St Theresa’s Road, and the provision of new vehicular and pedestrian access with revised parking and set down areas.

There will also be upgrade works to the existing site exit, and the removal of 10 prefabricated classrooms.

This fresh application was received by Roscommon County Council last week. The application is at the early pre-validation stage and a decision is expected by January.

At present, Roscommon Community College accommodates approximately 608 students and 65 staff. The proposed extension will increase capacity to approximately 700 students, supported by an estimated 70 staff.

Gaelscoil de Híde currently accommodates 145 students and 12 staff, with the proposed relocation enabling an increase to approximately 200 students and 17 staff.

According to the application’s planning documents, the site is approximately 24 acres in size and is in a rural setting to the south of Roscommon Town Centre, at the intersection of Thornfield Dr and St Theresa’s Road.

“Most of the site is currently comprised of agricultural lands and sheds with one field currently utilized as a GAA pitch. Large Populus trees delineate the GAA pitch from the rest of the site while dry stone walls divide the remainer of the land into fields,” the landscape design statement said. “The site already has a very open rustic feel to it with some valuable open space provisions existing within the current facilities.

“The proposed design would seek to try and imbibe most of this character and openness into the new facilities, which would in turn become crucial for a youngster’s development. The site has a GAA pitch towards the southwest and some designated areas in the north left for future development of open space infrastructure and play fields. The landscape vision connects with the overall site development concept of the ‘shared campus’ while securing, or zoning, spaces for younger children away from the larger expanse of the site.” 

A spokesperson of the Department of Education and Youth said the project is currently at ‘Stage 2b’ of the architectural design process.

“ It is not possible at this juncture to give a costing for the project as this information is commercially sensitive.”