Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 December 2015
537. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she is satisfied with the provision of a secondary education school (details supplied) in Duleek, County Meath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42854/15]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, the Duleek area feeds into the post-primary schools in Drogheda. A new post-primary school, Ballymakenny College, opened in September 2014 to cater for the feeder area. The building project for this school, which will cater for 1,000 students, is expected to be completed shortly.
My Department recently completed a nationwide demographic exercise to determine where additional post-primary schools will be needed in 2017 and 2018. This exercise encompassed all areas of the country, including Duleek. On the 17th November last I announced the details of the new post-primary schools to be provided nationwide in 2017 and 2018 as a result of this exercise. I also announced the programme of capital investment in schools running from 2016 to 2021, which will result in the provision of an additional 62,000 school places nationwide.
As part of this announcement, I stated that the demographic data will be kept under ongoing review. Any changes in demographic projections for the Drogheda area, including Duleek, taking into account updated enrolment data and the impact of ongoing and planned expansion of capacity in the area will be kept under review by my Department.
