Plans lodged for new school with capacity for 1,000 students lodged

Plans for a state-of-the-art permanent school building for Coláiste Ríoga in Dunshaughlin have taken a massive step forward with the lodging of a planning application for the recently established new school.

Coláiste Ríoga opened in September in temporary accommodation on the Dublin Road between the Dunshaughlin Business Park and the Willows housing development, on the site where the new school will also be built.

Plans were submitted to Meath County Council last week for a part two-storey, part three-storey school building to include 37 classrooms together with specialist home economics, science, art, technology and administration rooms, as well as a PE hall. There will also be a four-classroom special educational needs unit. The plans include staff parking, drop-off areas, and a pedestrian link from Willow Avenue, as well as six ball courts.

Plans for the new school building have been drawn up by Reddy Architects in collaboration with project management company KSNPM on behalf of the Department and the new school will eventually have capacity for 1,000 students.

Principal Declan Clarke said: “The staff, students and parents welcome the commitment that the Department and LMETB have shown to our school, Coláiste Ríoga. The plans that were lodged last week with Meath County Council are exciting for us as they are our vision for the new school, becoming a reality. We would like to thank everyone involved so far in this journey, including Councillors Nick Killian, Maria Murphy, Gerry O’Connor and Damien O’Reilly, our local sister schools Dunshaughlin Community College and Dunshaughlin Community National School, and everyone in the community. We look forward to serving the community of Dunshaughlin and surrounding areas for years to come”.

Coláiste Ríoga opened on 2nd September under the patronage of Louth Meath Education and Training Board (LMETB) and with just 12 students currently enrolled, Mr Clarke said the first-year class is benefiting from amazing individual attention.

He explained that when the new building is completed, LMETB can consider the feasibility of establishing an Irish unit or 'Aonad' within the school where students will receive instruction through the medium of Irish, but the bulk of the school will be English speaking.

"I am absolutely delighted with the progress made so far. The plans for the new school are really exciting. The building will ultimately cater for 1,000 students. It is going to be a landmark building on the southside of Dunshaughlin," said Mr Clarke. "We are also really excited that the department is going to locate Dunshaughlin Community National School on the same campus.

"The new building is going to provide state-of-the-art resources and also has the potential for amenities for the local population in terms of evening classes and potentially the use of sports facilities."

It is envisaged that the school will spend its first three years in the temporary accommodation, which Mr Clarke said is high quality and they are very happy with it. The entrance to the school has been through an access road off the Business Park but he explained that a new dedicated entrance is due to open shortly off the main road. Enrolment is currently being accepted and as it is a brand new school there are presently no restrictions on catchment areas.

As well as being principal, Mr Clarke is also part of the teaching staff, and said he is delighted with the progress made to date with the school.

"We have assembled a really enthusiastic and professional team and the students have really been exceptional. They have such enthusiasm and it is almost like a family feel to what we have here.

"There is a lot of experience on our small team. Shabana Dowd is deputy principal and our SEN co-ordinator is Gillian Pender."

Cllr Nick Killian who is chairperson of the board of management said: "I am delighted the Department of Education has put in the planning application, It is a great vote of confidence in Colaiste Rioga seeing as it is just started out and with small numbers. It is going to grow next year and beyond.

"I am delighted it's on a site that will be developed as an educational campus. It is a great way of using the space.

"We are very fortunate in the good team we have in Declan and Shabana. The students are getting such great personal attention and are doing very well."