Work on new CoI school building in Dunboyne to start

Construction is to begin shortly on the new school building for St Peter's Church of Ireland Primary School, Dunboyne

The new school will include five classrooms and two Special Education Needs rooms.

The school has been in temporary accommodation since it first opened in 2004.

Minister Thomas Byrne had welcomed approval for construction to begin.

“This is a significant step towards the delivery of the much needed permanent home for St. Peter’s National School, Dunboyne. Since its establishment in 2004, the school has been operating from temporary accommodation.

“St Peter's National School in Dunboyne is the first Church of Ireland denominational school established since the foundation of the State. It plays a very important role in an area of severe demographic pressure in Dunboyne and indeed South Meath. It caters for students from all over south Meath and students from west County Dublin.

“For some time, the school community has been understandably frustrated with the slow progress of the new building project. They have been in very cramped accommodation on a very dangerous piece of road in the village.

“While a member of the opposition, I continually raised and lobbied hard for the acquisition of a site and a proper permanent home for St Peter’s National School.

“The news that the project is now approved for construction is very positive news. Separately, the Government and the Department of Education is continuing to meet the significant demand of the local community for school places and educational provision in Dunboyne. The Government is committed to the delivery of services for this growing part of the county,” he concluded.

St Peter's is the parish school for the Dunboyne and Rathmolyon Group of Parishes which did not have its own school prior to St Peter's NS opening.

It opened with 23 pupils and two teachers in Dunboyne parish hall on 1st September 2004 and since then prefabs have been added to accommodate the growing numbers attending the school, which now has 72 pupils and five teachers.

The new school building will allow the school to grow to accommodate around 100 pupils.