Staff and parents of students at a County Waterford secondary school have expressed concerns that the current proposal for two modular classrooms at the school may curtail sporting activities.
Waterford Wexford Education and Training Board (WWETB) plans to install them on the grit pitch at St. Declan's Community College, Kilmacthomas.
WWETB was given the go-ahead by the Department of Education to install the two buildings, which will be in place at St. Declan's by September.
After a professional design team assessed the site, the school's grit pitch was deemed to be the only suitable location.
Some staff have been engaging with WWETB on the matter, and have pointed out that using the pitch like this will significantly reduce options for sporting activity.
They also pointed out that the school's other playing field is often water-logged and unplayable.
However, WWETB says other options aren't feasible.
The board says it is very focused on having maximum access to sporting facilities in all its schools including St Declans, which it says is fortunate to have access to other local sporting facilities.
But WLR News understands that staff and parents don't view these as suitable solutions, particularly in relation to hockey which the school has a proud tradition in.
WWETB says there is nowhere else to place the new accommodation and they must prioritise getting the new woodwork, special education unit base, and general classrooms in place as soon as possible.
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