Planning approval for new Dunshaughlin school building

Meath's newest secondary school, Coláiste Ríoga, which opened last September in temporary accommodation in Dunshaughlin has been given planning approval for its new school building.

Meath County Council has granted planning permission for the part two-storey, part three-storey school building which will untimately cater for 1,000 students. The new school will be built on a site beside the Willows housing development on the Dublin Road on the south side of Dunshaughlin.

The state of the art new school will 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.

In October 2020, Education Minister Norma Foley announced that four new schools would be established the following September to meet demand for secondary school places, including one in Dunshaughlin, Co Meath.

Expressions of interest from patron bodies were invited and following the patronage process, it was awarded to Louth Meath Education and Training Board.

Declan Clarke was appointed as principal and Shabana Dowd as deputy principal. The school opened on 2nd September last in temporary accommodation on the site where the permanent school will be located.

There are currently just 12 students in the school, with enrolment expected to be around 40-50 for first year for the upcoming school year. The school will also have a special needs unit for children with Autism, which can cater for six children.

Principal Declan Clarke has welcomed the granting of planning permission and said it was a “major step forward” in the development of Coláiste Ríoga.

“The services available in the new school building with be of great benefit to the students and the wider community. The two class groups which will hopefully commence in September could start third year in this state of the art school building. Together with our sister schools, we hope to meet the post-primary education needs of Dunshaughlin and surrounding areas for decades to come.

“Parents and students who would like to come with us on this exciting journey can enrol by filling in the application form on our website or ring 087-6117987. We have open enrolment as a new school, our time deadlines are flexible, and we are not tied to a particular catchment for the first few years.

“Parents who would like their children to attend a small school which offers small class sizes, individual attention and great facilities should consider enrolling. Some of our current group of First Year students chose Coláiste Ríoga because they found it daunting transferring to a large secondary school, but they have thrived since starting with us. They will be welcomed by our team of professional friendly teachers, Shabana Dowd, our Deputy Principal, and myself”.

Chair of the Board of Management Cllr Nick Killian said: “I am absolutely delighted that the go ahead has been given to build our new college in Dunshaughlin. The school started this year with a small number and will grow next year with more classes and into the years ahead.

“The school has had a great start with a great team in place led by principal Declan Clarke and deputy principal Shabana Dowd.”