Green light for new 1,000 pupil school in Navan
| Plans to build a new 1,000-pupil national school at Johnstown, Navan, has been given the go ahead by planners.Cllr Jenny McHugh, principal of St Stephen’s NS, said she was thrilled at the news. “At last, we will be able to teach children in proper facilities and proper-sized classrooms,” she said.Cllr McHugh said out that classes are currently being held in hallways, a computer room and in six prefabs. The school has a current enrolment of 726 and will be taking in 127 four year-olds in September.
Cllr McHugh said the current school has no playgrounds of any sort and the planned new facility will have both hard and soft playing grounds.The proposed new facility will have 32 classrooms and a special unit attached which may be used as a pre-chool facility for children with autism. Work is expected to begin in October. Cllr Tommy Reilly welcomed the granting of planning permission, “The planning permission means that the St Stephen’s School project can now commence and, when completed, it will make life much easier for parents and students from the surrounding areas, in that they will now have proper educational facilities on their doorsteps,” he said. Cllr Reilly went on to thank his colleagues from the Navan Electoral area, in particular, Cllr Shane Cassells, and principal, Jenny McHugh, for their support in making the ambitious project a reality. |