No decision on West Cork national school's promised classroom

A West Cork primary school is still waiting for a decision on a badly-needed new classroom two years after receiving initial approval for the project.

Lisavaird National School was given initial approval in 2024 to build an new classroom under the additional accommodation scheme.

However, the school has not yet received a decision on the next stage of its application.

Social Democrats councillor Isobel Towse raised the delay at a recent meeting of Cork County Council’s Western Divisional Committee.

She said the school’s principal was increasingly concerned about the lack of space ahead of the new school year.

“They’re desperately in need of additional space, but they haven’t heard anything from the department as to if their application for a new classroom has been approved,” said Ms Towse.

The school has submitted its Stage 2B paperwork and needs approval from the Department of Education before it can move to the tender stage. Ms Towse said the school’s senior room was only half the size of its other two classrooms but was currently accommodating 24 pupils.

That number is expected to rise to 30 by September 2027.

“They do desperately need this space as quickly as possible,” she said.

On foot of a request by Ms Towse, Cork County Council agreed to write to the education minister seeking a decision on the application and a timeline for the project.

* Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme