Six new classrooms planned for Limerick school

LIMERICK’s newest secondary school is seeking permission to build six new modular buildings after its student intake outgrew expectations.

Mungret Community College, which welcomed its first students last September, is planning to build six new temporary modular buildings for use as eight classrooms.

The Limerick and Clare Educational and Training Board (LCETB) which runs the school, which will move into permanent accommodation next year, is also set to seek planning permission from council for a general purpose room, toilet block, and a hard court play area.

Fine Gael councillor Daniel Butler, who chairs the school’s board of management, said the move comes after they had to up their intake.

“The reality is we had an incredible level of demand. Last year, we took in 94. This year, we will be taking in 122 students. The level of demand has been unexpected. We expected it to be popular, but not this popular.

“We are at capacity in what we can take in,” he told The Limerick Leader.

The yearly intake of the school, which will eventually reach well over 600 students, will now be capped at 122 a year, he added.

“To meet that demand, we need to build our temporary accommodation. We were looking at moving into the main college building at Mungret, but its condition and the level of work required would put us under pressure timewise. The best option would be to go with the temporary units, which in themselves are of an incredibly high standard,” Cllr Butler said.

Asked why he felt Mungret Community College has proven so popular, he added: “The word is out there that we are doing something special in the college. We have brought a new approach to the area. We have a principal, Liam O'Mahony, who is very well regarded throughout the city and county, and the quality of teacher we've attracted has been incredible too.”