Plans for Ennis primary school will lead to ‘enhanced’ experience

PLANS to extend an Ennis primary school will lead to an “enhanced” school experience with “better facilities” for the existing staff and students.

That’s according to a report lodged with Clare County Council as part of a planning application by the Board of Management of Gaelscoil Mhíchíl Cíosóg for a two storey extension at the school.

If given the go-ahead the school on the Gort Road will see the development of six classrooms, a general purpose hall, two SEN classrooms and two ball courts as well as additional staff car parking and other associated works.

A mobility and management report into the proposal has been compiled by P Coleman & Associates on behalf of the applicant and lodged with the planning application.

It outlines that the proposed extended school will not create any additional students or trips with no planned increase in students or staff. The existing school has 471 students and 31 staff.

“The purpose of the new classroom and associated facilities is to improve the facilities available to the present school’s teachers and students. Presently there are some sub-standard sized rooms within the existing school facility, some of which are not fit for purpose,” the report states.

Four building options were considered, with the preferred option to extend to the most recent stand-alone building. The works will involve modifications to the existing school.

If given the go-ahead, externally the development will see two pre-fabricated unit classrooms replaced and removed permanently from the site. “Overall the school experience will be enhanced with better facilities for the existing staff and students,” the report outlines.

A civil / structural report by P Coleman details, “There is substantial traffic in the area. There will be no traffic increase in the area due to the extension. The traffic set up is working well currently” adding that with the implementation of an attached mobility plan “it will improve the current situation”.

The mobility plan finds that the most popular mode of transport for those travelling to and from the school is private car, at 69.8%. Walking accounts for 17.52% while carpooling was 6.43%; bus 3.32% and cycling 2.82%. Students and staff come from a wide area throughout Ennis and outside Ennis, the report notes.

According to the report the figure of 17.52% of children to walk to school “is reasonably low” and excludes all infant classes. Walking is “the most feasible and beneficial mode of access for students, especially for those living within 0.5km of the school.”

Addressing the numbers who cycle the report states the figure of 2.82% “is quite low”. “While an amount of work has been done and is presently being done around the town in relation to cycle lanes, there is still a strong reluctance for safety reasons to allow young children out on the main roads even if they have designated cycle lanes,” the report states.

In relation to cars, the report outlines, “The majority of children are transported to the Gaelscoil Mhícíl Cíosóg by private car and while the numbers might appear to be substantial, the car arrivals in front or at the school site are less than expected to to Park and Walk.”

Throughout the school year parents drive into adjacent housing estates which have connectivity to the school and park and walk to the school, the report details.

A number of initiatives and incentives have been suggested under the proposed mobility plan to manage travel and the traffic impact of school related journeys.
These include ‘Walk to School Wednesdays’; cycling facilities and the encouragement of car sharing. Car sharing is “one of the strongest mobility management measures available”, with a potential to reduce fuel costs by 20% as well as resulting in a reduction of 20% in demand for parking at school drop-down collection areas.

“Although use of the car will be essential for a large proportion of pupils and staff, car sharing schemes have the potential to deliver a reduction in private vehicle trips by promoting higher than average occupancy rates for each vehicle. Due to the school’s location, public transport options are non-existent; therefore car sharing could serve to provide the most impact in terms of trip reduction.”

A decision on the planning application is due to be made in October.