Sharon Keogan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State. I am looking for an update on what assessment of need has been carried out by the Department of Education with regard to a new secondary school for the Duleek area. More than a year and a half ago I laid out a case for a new secondary school, in a Commencement matter which was answered by Deputy English. Figures from the Central Statistics Office, CSO, clearly show that our population has increased by more than 14% in recent years. The development of new houses along with the granting of planning permissions in our area and the surrounding areas shows that another secondary school is needed. More than 800 Ukrainians have settled in our area over the past 18 months. All of this increase is leading to the demand for a new secondary school in our area. Not only do we need a new school but we also have the land available on which to build it. In 2005 the Bishop of Meath tried to rezone lands owned by the community and St. Finian's Diocesan Trust. That was the only piece of community land we had for the provision of community and educational facilities in our town. Thankfully at that time I tabled a motion to the effect that this land would not be rezoned. Hence, we have 27 acres ready to go. The bishop said that if the Department of Education wants that land for the provision of a secondary school, it is there for the Department to negotiate with the Trust. There is good access to the site on Station Road and also from the business park, through which cars and buses could enter. Pedestrian access is available from Main Street. In 2018 the Department decided to build a secondary school. We thought we were going to get this for the Duleek area as there was clearly a need at the time. There still is. Unfortunately it went over to the Grangerath and Mornington area. There was nothing we could do about it. That was an Educate Together school. We did not win the vote at that time.

Clearly however, our population has increased remarkably since that time. We have 12 feeder schools, five of which are in the parish, namely, Duleek Boys' National School, Duleek Girls' National School, Scoil Cholmcille Mount Hanover, Bellewstown National School, Cushinstown National School. There is also St. Patrick's National School in Ardcath, Donore National School, Knockcommon National School, Kentstown National School, Rathfreigh National School, Skryne National School and Yellow Furze National School. In addition, there is an option for children to come from Whitecross National School or even from Slane or Curragha. The options available at this time are Drogheda, Laytown, Navan, Ashbourne or Grangerath. We have talked about creating a green environment. We talk about giving kids the option to cycle or walk to school. We in Duleek do not have that option. Some of our children must leave for school and be picked up as early as 7.15 a.m. every morning. Building a school within walking distance is important if we want to cut emissions from cars and buses and give children a healthier lifestyle. I hope to get a favourable answer this morning so that hundreds of parents in Duleek and surrounding areas can have a secondary school, and also that I am not inundated with parents' queries early next year when they cannot get their children into schools in the Drogheda, Navan or Ashbourne areas.