Call for clarity on timeline for new Coachford school

A Cork senator has called for a clear timeline for the delivery of a state-of-the-art secondary school in Coachford.

Speaking in the Seanad, Fine Gael senator Eileen Lynch said there is an urgent need for an upgraded secondary school in the Coachford area.

Plans for a new 1,000-pupil secondary school, replacing all existing accommodation at Coachford College, were approved in November 2023.

The new school would offer students 37 general classrooms, specialist rooms, science laboratories, engineering and construction rooms, and multimedia laboratories, as well as a special education needs suite and a PE hall.

The plans also include the provision of new site entrances, car parking areas, drop-off areas, new site boundary, new ball courts, a playing pitch, landscaped external areas, and all associated site works.

Ms Lynch said the current Coachford College school building is no longer fit for the growing population it serves.

She said: “Plans are in train and the community has been patient. Funding was granted in 2020. Planning was granted in 2023.

“We now need clarity and certainty. We need a statement on the current stage of the project and a timeline for when construction will begin.

“We have seen funding allocated and we have seen planning granted but we do not see any progress on actual delivery.

“We need to ensure the young people of Coachford and mid-Cork have the facilities they deserve. Their future and the future of our region depends on it.”

Ms Lynch added: “Currently, more than 850 students attend Coachford College and that number is expected to rise further in the years ahead.

“The delivery of it is incredibly important. The school is a hub in mid-Cork. It is servicing the entire hinterland of Coachford, which is a massive area.”