SECONDARY SCHOOL PLANNED
A NEW secondary school to cater for 600 students is to be built in south Drogheda and will open next year.
The announcement was made last week by Minister for Education and Skills, Richard Bruton, T.D.
The location has yet to be announced but it will be situated between Drogheda and Laytown.
He said the new school was part of ‘ balanced regional development’ as outlined in Project Ireland 2040 for the Drogheda environs.
Cathaoirleach of the Laytown/Bettystown area Cllr Paddy Meade says the news is very welcome as it’s something that’s been fought for quite a while.
‘We had looked for this school and also a school in Duleek so it’s disappointing that Duleek has not been included. It is a big town now and has two new primary schools, so it is vital for the area,’ Paddy stated. He says that the ‘desperate need’ for a school there means that the fight will continue for it.
‘ The new school has been earmarked for the Drogheda-Laytown area but I feel an area between Bettystown and Mornington would be ideal. I will be meeting with engineers this week and I will certainly be proposing that we learn from the mistakes of the past. It needs a traffic management plan initially, that footpaths can be put in place and that access to the facility won’t lead to problems down the road.’
Local TD, Fergus O’Dowd, added, “This is fantastic news and it is hoped the project will be completed by 2019 and will deliver a regional solution for the area. This decision is an endorsement of the Project 2040 announcement and Drogheda’s inclusion as a vital cog earmarked for regional development in the plan.”
“Another key element of this announcement is the process that will be run to establish parental preference for the patronage of the new school. Minister Bruton will announce a new online patronage process this year to determine parental preferences in the area in terms of preferred patron and their preference as to whether the new school should operate through Irish or English.
“In addition the large school will also secure employment for teachers locally and create jobs in the construction sector.”