Ballyshannon preschool seeks extended hours to help 'working parents’
Denise Gallagher, on behalf of Kiddlywinks CC Ltd submits application to Donegal County Council to extend hours at Ballyshannon’s Gaelscoil Éirne preschool facility
A Ballyshannon Gaelscoil has sought permission from Donegal County Council to extend the opening hours for its pre-school and playschool facility.
In June, Kiddlywinks CC Ltd, successfully obtained planning permission for the change of use of an existing classroom in Gaelscoil Éirne in Ballyshannon, for pre-school, playschool, and after-school activities and services, including minor alterations and all associated site development works.
Included in the conditions for the obtained planning permission from Donegal County Council, was that the hours of operation should be restricted from 9.30am to 12.30pm during weekdays only.
A new application has been submitted, by Denise Gallagher on behalf of Kiddlywinks CC Ltd, to change that condition of restricted opening hours, and permit the opening hours for the pre-school/playschool facility from 8am to 6pm on weekdays.
In support documents for the application, a cover letter written by Paul Doherty Architects, on behalf of the applicant, stated: “The preschool facility will open at 8am to allow early drop-off of children and the afterschool will close at 6pm allowing for late collection of children to facilitate working parents and is crucial to the survival of the school and the maintenance of school numbers.”
The school doors for the national school officially opened in September 2002, and since then has enriched numerous young people of the South Donegal and West Fermanagh region.
As of June 2023, when the school held a special 20th birthday celebration, there was an enrolment of 37 students.
Donegal County Council has set a decision due date for the submitted planning application for December 23.