By Louise Doyle

AN appeal has been lodged with An Coimisiún Pleanála after Donegal County Council gave the green light to construction works at St Bernadette’s Special School in Letterkenny.

The appellants have cited they believe the proposed development poses a “significant risk to public safety, residential amenity and environmental integrity”.

Donegal County Council gave the go-ahead to retention permission to applicant Mr Edward Harvey, Chairperson of the Board of Management.

The proposed development comprises a single-storey modular standalone unit, comprising two classrooms, which was completed in October 2023 under exempted development provisions, and permission for the construction of two new single-storey modular standalone buildings to accommodate four classrooms in total.

The provision of two secure play areas, reconfiguration of the existing car parking area, removal of an existing modular building and all associated development works at St Bernadette’s Special School, College Farm Road, Sallaghagrane, are also included in proposed plans.

A number of submissions to the proposed development were lodged with Donegal County Council. Planning permission was granted in August, with 13 conditions attached.

In written correspondence to An Coimisiún Pleanála, two residents of College Farm Road set out their reasons for their appeal.

“This school building is situated on a small plot, near a substandard road, with no footpath.

“This application to increase the number of classrooms, on top of an already expanded number, will have a detrimental effect on the residents living in the area. It will increase traffic flow on an already heavily trafficked substandard roadway, which makes it, during school hours and on other occasions when this school is opened, virtually inaccessible for local residents, with traffic obstruction and overspill a constant at or near the school itself.”

The appellants also pointed to an ‘inadequate pedestrian infrastructure’.

“College Farm Road currently lacks pedestrian footpaths. It forces pedestrians and schoolchildren to walk on the edges of this substandard road to avoid vehicular traffic.

“College Farm Road leads on to a very busy junction of College Road, Glencar Road and New Line Road which has planning permission granted on a small site, for 15 apartments at this busy junction.”

The appellants further added that the aforementioned roads service six schools, national and post primary within a very short radius, including St Bernadette’s, and caters for more than 3,000 schoolchildren, and one HSE facility.

“This proposed design/application creates a significant risk to pedestrian safety, particularly for children and individuals with limited mobility, and from this school, and also creates traffic hazards which Donegal County Council have been made aware of by email on numerous occasions, including a road traffic accident at the entrance to this school.”

In concluding their appeal, the appellants stress that while they support the need for schools like St Bernadette’s, they cite that they believe that the “over development on the site fails to meet the fundamental criteria of good
planning, community safety, and responsible design”.

They said: “The safety of children and local residents should be of paramount importance in any planning decision.”

An Coimisiún Pleanála is due to make its decision on January 9, 2026.