elphin local area plan 2009 - 2015 - Roscommon County Council

Chapter 7: Social and Community Facilities
services throughout the County, which are categorised into sessional, full day-care, child-minding and
private and community services. There are also approximately 14 after-school services and 12 parent and
toddler groups in the county. The need to develop and expand social infrastructure such as childcare
provision which supports the lifecycle needs of people working and living in the county, is a priority of
Roscommon County Council.
The Elphin Community Childcare Facility is located to the rear of the Community Centre and has a
modern play area with safe surfacing. There is also a private childcare facility on Palace Road. It is
imperative that adequate crèche facilities are provided in suitable locations within the town, particularly
within residential areas. They should form an integral part of new developments and in locations adjacent
to open space amenities and community facilities such as schools.
7.4 HEALTH
Responsibility for the provision of health-care facilities within County Roscommon lies with a number of
public, voluntary and private agencies. The Health Service Executive is the primary agency responsible
for delivering health and personal social services. The Elphin Health Centre is located on Chapel Street,
adjacent to the Roman Catholic Church.
7.5 EDUCATION
Education, and the provision of adequate education facilities, has an integral role to play in developing
sustainable and balanced communities. The existence of such facilities can increase the attractiveness of an
area for business and families. Roscommon County Council has no direct responsibility for the provision of
education. Decisions regarding the future requirements for education facilities are primarily the
responsibility of the education authorities. There is however, onus on Council to reserve sufficient lands to
meet the likely future demands for community facilities including education.
Elphin has a long tradition of providing education. The Bishop Hodson Grammar School, now known, as
the Elphin Grammar School was in the past renowned for its teaching and had many well-known pupils.
The building at the rear of the school was used in the past by Elphin Community College, however it sits
empty at present. The old school holds significant potential for development for community usage in the
future.
Currently there are two schools in the Elphin area, Abbeycartron National School provides primary
education and Elphin Community College provides secondary level education. Enrolment figures in the
National School have remained more or less constant in recent years with 144 students enrolled in
2006/2007 (the most recent figures available).
Elphin Community College caters not only for the town of Elphin but also for a wide catchment area.
Enrollment figures have remained relatively constant also and the 2006/2007 figure was 119 students; 67
boys and 52 girls. The school was extended in 2007 in order to accommodate increased student numbers
and bring all classrooms onto the one site.
The educational facilities within Elphin at present have capacity to adequately cater for the short to
medium term expansion of the population. However, if the population was to increase significantly this
situation would need to be re-addressed. Accordingly lands have been zoned for Community Use in order
to allow expansion of the schools as required. Shared facilities between the schools may be considered for
future development.
When considering the provision of schools in Elphin the Council shall refer to “The Provision of Schools
and the Planning System A Code of Practice for Planning Authorities, the Department of Education &
Science & DEHLG” (July 2008), where appropriate.
Elphin Local Area Plan 2009-2015 Page 66