Three new schools announced for Meath

New post primary schools for Enfield and the Laytown/Drogheda area and a new primary school for Dunshaughlin were announced by Education Minister Richard Bruton today as part of the Department's plan to establish 42 new schools over the next four years.

Enfield has been campaigning for a secondary school for many years and today's announcement approves a 500 pupil post primary school for 2020.

A 600 pupil post primary school has also been announced for next year for the Laytown and Drogheda catchment area but no specific location has been given. East Meath Deputy and Fianna Fail spokesperson on Education, Thomas Byrne has called for clarification on where this propsoed new regional secondary school will to be located as soon as possible so that parents can make an informed choice.. He said the Drogheda and Laytown School catchment area includes Duleek in the Department boundaries and many, including him have suggested Duleek as the "obvious solution". 

The four year plan also includes a new eight-classroom primary school for Dunshaughlin which is due to open next year. There are currently two primary schools in Dunshaughlin- St Seachnaill's NS and Gaelscoil na Ríthe and there is increasing pressure for places in the area. 

Minister English paid tribute to the local community in Enfield for actively campaigning with him since his tenure as Minister of State in the Department of Education for the much-needed school for the South Meath town and surrounding areas and thanked them for "never giving up on the need for the school".

Local councillor Cllr Enda Flynn said there are already wonderful pre-schools and a modern primary school in Enfield and "the announcement that a new post primary school will now be built in Enfield will see the last piece of the jig-saw as regards educational facilities for the area".