No end in sight for Dunboyne College accommodation woes

The Department of Education has refused to sanction permanent accommodation for Dunboyne College, sparking an angry reaction locally to what has been described as a "hammer blow" to the college.

Dunboyne College currently caters for 950 students across 14 different units in Dunboyne Industrial estate and busses its childcare and pre-nursing students to Navan each day because of lack of space.

The Department has informed the Louth Meath Education and Training Board that  it is not in a position "to consider the proposal further, until such time as a broader strategy is respect of further education provision."

Chairman of the Board of Management, Cllr Nick Killian said he was gobsmacked at the decision.

"This is a hammerblow - a kick in the teeth to post leaving students across Meath and West Dublin - in fact students attend Dunboyne from all across the country.

"In fact 300 of this year's students are from Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar's own constituency of West Dublin."

"Our pre university courses are excellent - Maynooth University  says they have a drop out rate of almost zero from our students. We provide education for the equine industry, animal health and childcare and all the students end up getting jobs."

"I will be seeking an immediate meeting to get answers from Minister joe McHugh," he said.