Progress made on major extension for Mayo school
The project was devolved to the school authority for delivery and has been progressing through the Department’s architectural and design stages.
Minister of State, Alan Dillon TD, has welcomed continued progress on the significant extension planned for Ballyhaunis Community School, confirming that the project remains active within the Department of Education’s school building pipeline.
The project, which will deliver substantial new accommodation for students and staff, was approved under the Additional School Accommodation Scheme (ASA) to provide:
- A two classroom Special Education Needs (SEN) base
- Five general classrooms
- One science laboratory with preparation area
- One art room and associated art store Minister Dillon said the extension represents an important investment in education provision for East Mayo.
“Ballyhaunis Community School is a growing and diverse school community, and this project will ensure that students have access to modern, high quality learning spaces. The inclusion of a new SEN base, additional classrooms and specialist rooms reflects the needs of the school and the wider community it serves.”
The project was devolved to the school authority for delivery and has been progressing through the Department’s architectural and design stages.
In Quarter 3 of 2024, the Department approved the project to advance to Stage 2a, the detailed design phase of the architectural process. The Department subsequently received the Stage 2a Detailed Design Report in Quarter 3 of 2025.
The Department of Education has confirmed that the Stage 2a submission is now under active review. Once this review is complete, the Department will issue further guidance to the school authority on progressing the project to the next stage of development.
Minister Dillon said this progress is welcome news for the school community: “This is a positive step forward for Ballyhaunis Community School. I will continue to work closely with the Department of Education to ensure this project advances as efficiently as possible. The school community deserves modern facilities that support teaching, learning and inclusion, and this extension will play a central role in meeting those needs.”
He added that investment in school infrastructure remains a key priority for Mayo: “Across Mayo, we are seeing strong investment in new school buildings, extensions and modernisation projects. These improvements are vital to supporting our young people and ensuring that every student has access to the facilities they need to reach their full potential.”
