The school planning section of my Department has been engaged in an assessment of primary education provision in Blessington. This was necessary to ensure that this rapidly developing town can continue to meet emerging demands.
On foot of the Department's analysis it is proposed to reconfigure Scoil Mhuire into a 16-classroom junior school. It will remain at its current location. Senior primary classes will be catered for through the provision of a brand new 16-classroom school. The new school will be called St. Mary's senior school and will be located on agreenfield site that my Department acquired recently. Both schools will be co-educational.
The needs of the Blessington No. 1 school have also been examined. A new school on a greenfield site has been determined as the optimum strategy to position this school to meet its needs going forward. Efforts to acquire a site for the new school are ongoing.
I am aware that a developer has submitted proposals to the management authorities of both Blessington No. 1 school and St. Mary's senior school concerning the delivery of the two schools. These proposals are currently being examined by officials in the school planning section of the Department. As soon as decisions are taken regarding these proposals, my officials will be in direct contact with all relevant parties.