The Board of Management at a Longford town school says it wants to improve security on the site to avoid strangers coming into its classrooms.
The security issues are outlined in a cover letter attached to planning permission lodged with the county council for St Michaels Boys national School on St Mel's Road in the town.
The school was recently allocated funding by the Department of Education and the board of management says it wants to position the new buildings in a place that will not only provide the additional accommodation, but will also provide much needed security for pupils and staff.
The application letter states the school is extremely accessible to the public, and all classrooms lead out to the school yard thus allowing any member of the public to freely enter unseen any classroom at any stage during the school day.
It says there have been experiences that vary from irate parents or relations of pupils storming in on teachers and pupils during the school day, to members of the public coming into a classroom looking for directions to somewhere in the town.
Concern is also expressed about pupils having left the school grounds on occasion.
The new plans for the school include three new general education classrooms, a bathroom, and two Special Education Teacher rooms.
Enrolment at St Michael's has increased from 170 pupils in September of 2011 to 235 pupils currently on the roll.
