Eureka site row in Dáil

Profile by John Feeney Updated: Wednesday, 12th November, 2008 8:00am

Education Minister Batt O"Keeffe failed to answer queries put to him in the Dáil last week concerning the controversial siting of a new Eureka Secondary School in Kells, Cllr John Farrelly claimed this week.

The Fine Gael councillor strongly criticised the minister"s responses to questions from Deputy Shane McEntee and urged the publishing of officials" findings on the Navan Road site.

The minister repeated his officials" earlier points in stating his Department had been consulting with Meath County Council about several issues, including the Navan Road site.

The Department of Education had acquired a site (on the Cavan Road) for a new post-primary school under the Redress Scheme.

Both it and the Navan Road sites were examined and a technical report deemed the Cavan Road generally suitable for such a school of 700 pupils, he said.

Minister O"Keeffe said the department viewed this as the optimal site and had asked the county council to rezone it accordingly.

The minister gave the same reply to other queries from the Nobber TD, seeking the department"s view on keeping the Kells schools together on the same campus at the navan Road and the greater suitabilility of the Navan Road in this regard.

The replies were 'an outright disgrace', said the Kells councillor.