St. Eunan’s College, Letterkenny.
BY CATHERINE COOK
PLANS to build a new state-of-the-art extension at St Eunan’s College in Letterkenny have been dealt a devastating blow after An Bord Pleanala refused permission for the development to go ahead.
The planning board confirmed to the Donegal News yesterday (Thursday) that they had upheld an objection by local residents in the adjoining Hawthorn Heights estate.
They had appealed the decision of Letterkenny Town Council to grant permission for the major project in December of last year.
For years, college authorities have been aware that the existing school is no longer suitable for modern educational needs.
As far back as 1999 the process of planning for the future got underway, and since then at least 11 options have been looked at.
In December last, Letterkenny Town Council granted permission to demolish the 1979 annexe to the rear of the school, and the gym, and to construct a new 900 pupil school comprising 7,452 square metres on three floors behind the main building.
The new multi-million euro extension would see the 1979 extension at the rear of the old building along with the gym building being demolished.
The old main building would still be used but the extension would provide the opportunity for modern science labs and classrooms for 900 students.
The main building at St Eunan’s dates back to 1904 and is a protected building.