Plans for new €16m school in Kilkenny city
Plans for a new €16 million school in Kilkenny city have moved a step closer.
The Board of Management of the Presentation Secondary School in Loughboy recently lodged plans with Kilkenny County Council for a new building that will almost double the size of the current school.
If granted permission, the existing school will be demolished, along with a number of associated outbuildings.
These will be replaced by a new two-storey 37-classroom school building with a total floor area of 10,276sqm.
The new school will also have a large general-purpose hall, a PE hall, a special needs unit, a library, staff rooms and all ancillary accommodation.
The school building will also incorporate some green initiatives, with photovoltaic panels planned for the roof to the southern corner of the school.
Externally, the new school hopes to create a half-size GAA pitch with ballstop nets, two multi-use games area pitches, a basketball court, play and horticultural areas, a sensory garden with associated hard and soft landscaping throughout.
The development will also include modifications to the existing car and pedestrian access including new entrance gates and a new internal access road and footpath, an internal drop-off area for both cars and busses and the provision of 93 car parking spaces.
The plans allow for 122 sheltered bicycle parking spaces for students and 28 bicycle spaces for visitors.
The school on theb Outrath Road currently caters for 784 pupils.
A decision on the application is expected from the local authority before the end of May.
