Ardee school plans questioned as parking issues spark debate
By ArdeePost Reporter
Dáil Debate Hears Ardee Educate Together May Need New Planning Nod
Principal raises urgent safety concerns over €7.6m new school build
A new €7.6 million school development for Ardee Educate Together National School is facing renewed scrutiny after concerns over access, parking and pupil safety were raised both locally and in the Dáil. The project, currently under construction on Jervis Street and led by Louth County Council, is due to welcome pupils and staff in Spring 2026 — but the school’s principal says vital issues must be addressed before the doors open.
Principal: “I have to speak up for my pupils and staff”
Principal Ann Middleton, who has led Ardee Educate Together since 2002, said she could no longer stay silent about what she described as “serious concerns” about the new campus design.
“I don’t want to be causing trouble, but I have to speak up for my pupils and staff,” she said, explaining that the school currently operates split across two buildings — one dating back to the 1840s, and another in a former furniture factory across a busy main road.
“We might just be the only school in Ireland where a main road runs through it!” she said. “The new building will transform our school…but the design issues cannot be ignored.”
Parking Shortfall and Bus Congestion
One of the principal’s biggest concerns is parking capacity. Despite 34 staff and regular visits from therapists, advisors, and specialists, the new development provides just 20 parking spaces, with none allocated to the special educational needs (SEN) base.
“We will need around twice the spaces they are installing,” Ann said.
Equally troubling, she added, is the lack of bus set-down space. While the school currently has five buses arriving daily, the new design accommodates only two.
“This will cause absolute traffic chaos every morning and afternoon,” she warned. “The system they are intending to put in place is unworkable.”
The principal highlighted that a simple extension of the bus set-down area by three additional spaces to the west would solve the bottleneck, using what she says is unused land already available on the site.
“Potentially Dangerous” Footpath for Pedestrians
Ann also expressed grave concerns about pedestrian safety along the narrow Jervis Street footpath adjoining the school.
“It is very close to lorries passing just inches away,” she said. “We need safety barriers installed. The speed some vehicles travel at poses a real risk of children being sucked into the traffic.”
She stressed that action must be taken now — not after an accident.
“We cannot wait until a child is killed or injured to take action.”
Outdated Design at Root of Problems?
Ann said many of the issues stem from original design plans drawn up around a decade ago, before the school’s enrolment — particularly for SEN pupils — grew significantly.
“I have been asking the council to address these problems while we still have builders on site. If works have to be done after handover, it will cost much more.”
She said additional parking could easily be provided by using a large green area currently allocated for landscaping.
Concerns Raised in the Dáil Chamber
The school’s challenges were highlighted this week during a Dáil debate.
Louth TD Ruairí Ó Murchú said the lack of bus parking would severely affect autistic pupils who struggle with delays or waiting in congested areas, potentially triggering dysregulation or meltdown.
“The present system will result in absolute traffic chaos,” he said.
The Deputy added that design team architects had previously refused proposed changes on cost grounds, and that any modification at this stage may require a fresh planning application.
Department Response: Changes Likely to Need Planning Approval
Speaking on behalf of Minister for Education Hildegard Naughton, Deputy Emer Higgins confirmed that the design team is obliged to deliver the project according to the original brief and planning conditions.
She noted that the Department had previously not approved the school’s request for more parking spaces.
“What is currently provided for is in line with the approved planning requirements,” she said, adding that suggestions to widen roads or expand car parks would likely require a new application.
Her advice: engage directly with Louth County Council now, before construction is complete, to explore whether planning amendments are still possible.
Next Steps Unclear as Clock Ticks Toward 2026 Opening
With the build progressing rapidly, time is running out for changes to be considered cost-effective. The principal, local representatives and the Department all agree the school is badly needed — but differ on how, and how quickly, the design flaws can be addressed.
For now, Ardee Educate Together looks set to gain a long-awaited modern school building. The question is whether access, safety and parking issues can be resolved before pupils and staff arrive at the gates in 2026.
