This article is from page 18 of the 2008-03-25 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 18 JPG
THE Diocese of Killaloe has taken a major step to advance plans for a new Ennis national school and, ultimate- ly, to secure a €40 million windfall.
The diocese, under Bishop Willie Walsh, has lodged plans with Ennis Town Council for an access road that will open up its valuable land bank at Ashline on the Kilrush Road in Sab av Ese
The 85 acres of land were rezoned in 2006 in order to facilitate the relo- cation of Ennis National School.
The diocese 1s proposing to con- struct 590 houses which would place a €150 million value on the develop- eeloole
The diocese would secure the €40 million through the sale of the site.
Since the council rezoned the lands, progress on the construction of the school has been slow.
However, the development of the road is vital to the relocation a Sep- tember target is in place to have the road constructed.
In tandem with the roadway ap- plication for the school, the Board
of Management of Ennis National School is examining over 100 sub- missions from firms pitching to be
involved in the construction. An advert was placed in the European Journal in order to assemble a design team.
It will be a 32 class school. Hopes
are that planning permission will be secured to allow construction commence in 2009. This would al- low a new school to be in place in 2010/2011.
A spokesman for the board of man- agement stated that the school had written to the Department of Educa- tion for clarification in relation to the submissions.
As part of the development of the 85 acres, the diocese is providing a couple of sports playing pitches.
Along with the 590 homes, the dio- cese is also proposing the develop- ment of sheltered housing for Caher- calla Hospital. The plan states that the proposal will allow the creation of clearly separate and distinct resi- dential sub-areas, while community facilities will be placed at the centre of the area.
The development of the lands is to be carried out in four phases over a 21-year period with the first phase commencing in 2007-09 with the construction of the school.