Council to purchase former Dunboyne national school

Meath County Council has confirmed it is buying the old Dunboyne national school in the centre of the village

The local authority has confirmed it is in the process of purchasing the old Dunboyne national school, and it is proposed to utilise this space to expand the library service provision and the community facilities in Dunboyne.

The building has been central to village life for generations, according to Cllr Maria Murphy who welcomed the news that it has been secured for community use.

"It will be interesting to see what the vision is for the building. It is proposed to enhance the library services in the village but libraries now provide a lot of additional services including meeting facilities.

"It is a fabulous building, but it needs an upgrade and a lot of attention as it hasn't been maintained in a number of years. I am delighted that it has been secured for the community and hasn't gone on sale on the open market. It will be a big project and will require considerable funds to upgrade it.

"The school is much loved in the village. It is right in the centre across from the green, a beautiful setting. Generations of Dunboyne people went to primary school there, St Peter's College started out in that building, as did the College of Further Education and it provided childcare for many years.

"Meals on wheels have been using it for decades, Dunboyne Active Retirement meet there weekly and many other community groups use it. We now need to see what the plans are for it.

Cllr Caroline O'Reilly said the purchase would ensure the protection of an important community asset.

The acquisition represents a significant milestone for Dunboyne according to Cllr O 'Reilly, who has worked to ensure the building is brought into public ownership for the benefit of the community.

“I’m delighted to see this progress,” said Cllr O’Reilly. “This purchase not only unlocks the potential for a long-overdue upgrade to our local library services, but it also secures the future of a landmark building that holds real historical and community value for Dunboyne.”

"The site will now be earmarked for the delivery of a modern, expanded library service to meet the needs of Dunboyne’s growing population, while also protecting the building from private development or disuse.

“This is a real win for Dunboyne. The town is growing fast, and community infrastructure must grow with it,” Cllr O’Reilly added. “I’m proud to have played a part in getting this over the line and look forward to the next steps as plans for the site develop.”

Cllr Nick Killian warmly welcomed the news the decision of the council to buy the building. "It will be a great benefit for Dunboyne," he said.

The Dunboyne Library currently shares a building owned by the HSE which also provides accommodation for Rehab Care and HSE services. It is understood the current library services will be retained there, but enhanced services will be delivered in the old school building.

A full update on the acquisition and next steps will be provided at the next Ratoath Municipal Council meeting.