Planning application for new school campus in Cork town due this year

A planning application for the development of a new school campus to accommodate Le Chéile Secondary School and Gaelscoil an Chaisleáin in Ballincollig will be submitted before the end of the year.

In a letter to parents, Le Chéile principal Nicola Barrett stated that, following a presentation of the stage one concept design report to the Department of Education on January 30, the project has been progressed to stage 2a, “developed design”.

This will include the preparation and submission of the planning application by the end of this year.

Both schools have been operating out of temporary premises since they opened in 2021 and 2017 respectively, with the site for the new school campus being first identified in 2020.

Significant step

Ms Barrett said: “This is a significant step forward in the delivery of long-awaited permanent accommodation for Le Chéile.

“This is a hugely positive step for us. The design reflects what matters most to us — wellbeing, inclusion, and active learning.

“This milestone gives real confidence that our students and staff will soon have a permanent building that supports both academic and personal development.”

The new site premises, at Lisheens in Ballincollig, plans to accommodate 1,000 pupils for Le Chéile Secondary School and 500 pupils for Gaelscoil an Chaisleáin.

The plans include general classrooms, specialist rooms, a library, dining facilities, a PE hall and dedicated special education needs (SEN) units.

Cautious welcome

Sinn Féin councillor Joe Lynch has cautiously welcomed progress.

“The anticipation of parents with children in the schools, as well as the wider community in Ballincollig, was that the development of the new school campus would proceed rapidly once the site was acquired by Cork City Council two years ago.

“It has taken longer than expected to move through the Department of Education’s laborious project approval process, but it is welcome that this has now happened.

“The schools say a planning application for the project will be submitted before the end of the year. I now want the Department of Education to seriously prioritise delivery of the new schools, so that both of them get the buildings and the facilities they deserve, and so that Ballincollig gets the school places it needs.”