Plea for additional space to cater for growing demand for Tuam school

The Acting Principal of St Oliver’s Special School in Tuam has warned that many prospective students will miss out if they cannot increase their capacity, with just two places available for next year.

St Oliver’s currently caters for 40 students between the ages of four and 18 who have additional educational needs.

Starting with just eight pupils back in 2008, they quickly outgrew their old home at the Glebe, resulting in a move across the road to a new purpose-built facility in 2021. The entire building project cost in the region of €5 million.

The school covers a large catchment area that takes in North Galway and parts of South Mayo, with children coming from Mountbellew, Moylough, Caltra and Headford, plus the Neale and Ballindine in Co Mayo.

Acting Principal Bernie Creaven has called on the government to help facilitate an expansion of their premises or risk many students missing out on a place in the school.

“On average we get about ten applications a year, but we will only be able to facilitate two new students next year as only two will be leaving us,” explained Principal Creaven.

“If there is a child out there who would thrive in our school, we don’t want to refuse them, but we just cannot cater for more students in our current surroundings.”

See our full coverage of the official opening of the school in this week's edition.