2.5 Education and Training
2.5.1 Primary Level Education
Piltown National School is located to the north of Anthony’s Inn on the Banagher Road, is the only school in Piltown. It is a mixed school with 14 teachers and an enrolment number of between 260 – 270 for 2010/ 2011. This is an increase from the enrolment of 213 at the time of the last plan, in 2003.
The school has expanded in recent years with the additional of new permanent classrooms and resource room. The school has 10 classrooms and a resource room and has the capacity to cater for additional pupils. Additional lands have recently been acquired in order to extend the playing pitch at the school.
Based on a pupil-teacher ratio of 28, the school has a physical capacity of 280. The site area of the school is 1.24 hectares, and this provides space for any necessary expansion.
The Department of Education & Science have published guidelines entitled ‘Identification and Suitability Assessment of Sites for Primary Schools’ (TGD-025, September 2007) which recommend a range of site areas to accommodate various school sizes, see Table 2. According to these Guidelines, the site area of Piltown school could accommodate a school of 8-16 classrooms. The area required also depends on the shape of the site, site access, availability of site utilities, and the capacity of the site to meet specific criteria set out in the Guidelines, but in general it can be seen that the site is sufficiently large to accommodate future expansion, particularly of one or two classrooms.
Table 2: School Site Area Analysis
| Size of School | ||||
| 4 to 8Classroom | 8 to 16Classroom | 16 to 24Classroom | 24 to 32Classroom | |
| Required site size for two storey building (hectares) | 0.71 | 1.04 | 1.5 | 2.025 |
| Required site size for single storey building (hectares) | 0.77 | 1.14 | 1.6 | 2.2 |
Source: Identification and Suitability Assessment of Sites for Primary Schools’ (TGD-025, September 2007)
In accordance with The Provision of Schools and the Planning System: Code of Practice for Planning Authorities, the Department of Education and Science, and the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, the Planning Authority consulted with the Forward Planning Unit of the Department of Education and Science in the preparation of this Plan.
The Department of Education were satisfied that the projected population increase proposed under this plan would not require the provision of a new school or a significant expansion to the existing school.
The nearest secondary schools are in Carrick-on-Suir, 5km west of the town and Mooncoin 7km to the east.
2.5.2 Secondary & Third Level Education
Kildalton College is the largest agricultural college in the country and provides training in Equine Studies, Machinery, Agriculture and Horticulture. Over 500 students are registered at the college, which has established links with Waterford Institute of Technology.
The college has accommodation for 85 students on the grounds, and also relies on a number of local people who provide accommodation in Piltown. The college facility is vital to the strength of the local economy.
2.5.3 Adult Education
Adult education classes are currently available in Carrick-on-suir, Clonmel, Waterford and Mooncoin.
Policy:
AS6 -To co-operate with the Department of Education in the provision of an adequate number of school places to serve the needs of the village’s population and adequate facilities to serve Piltown National School and Mooncoin VEC.
Questions to consider for Education and Training
Do you agree with this approach, if so, why?
Do you disagree with this approach, if so, why?
What would you like to change?
Are there any other issues that you feel should be considered?
Please submit your answers to these questions or add your comments using the comment box below.
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Please also indicate below whether you are making a comment or whether you are making a formal submission to the plan.