Secondary school in East Cork set for multimillion euro expansion

A secondary school in East Cork is to receive a multimillion euro expansion, with a major extension set to go to tender.

With just more than 1,100 students, Pobalscoil na Tríonóide in Youghal is one of the largest schools in the county, catering for girls and boys between the ages of 12 and 18.

The community school was opened in 2006 following the amalgamation of three secondary schools into a new building on the outskirts of the town on Parkmountain, near the N25 bypass.

The Department of Education has announced the decision to fund the school expansion, which had been anticipated for some time. 

Welcoming the announcement of the expansion, Fianna Fáil TD for Cork East, James O’Connor, a Youghal resident and past pupil of the school, said the cost of the Pobalscoil na Tríonóide development would run to “the tens of millions”.

Mr O’Connor said the development had been given the green light by the Department of Education to go to tender and, once a contractor was appointed, the works, which have been granted planning, could commence.

“The extension will see the addition of six general classrooms, a new special education teaching unit of two classrooms, a technical graphics room, a woodwork room, two science rooms and shared preparation areas, one home economics room, toilets, and a much-needed additional social area for students attending the school,” he said.

“This is a massive multimillion-euro investment in Youghal’s only secondary school.”

Mr O’Connor added: “As a former pupil of Pobalscoil na Tríonóide, I am proud to support the school, their new principal, the board of management, the parents’ association, the staff, and students in their continued development.”