The Department of Education has revealed that two new secondary school buildings will be developed in the Dublin 9 area.
Last week, Minister for Education Norma Foley announced that her department and the City of Dublin Education and Training Board (CDETB) reached an agreement to facilitate and oversee the construction of two new 1000 pupil secondary schools that will service the north Dublin community.
It is understood that both of the buildings will be located in Whitehall.
Minister Foley said that during the announcement that these “schools will make valuable enhanced and expanded provision to meet the needs of their communities, including pupils with special educational needs.
“I would like to acknowledge the extensive engagement between the Department of Education, Minister Harris and his officials in the Department of Further and Higher Education and indeed the city of Dublin ETB to ensure that this ambitious project could be delivered.”
Local Fianna Fail TD Paul McAuliffe welcomed the news, saying parents in the area have been calling out for additional schooling facilities for some time.
“I am delighted that Dublin 9 will receive two new secondary schools following this agreement.
“One of these will be the construction of a new building at Clonturk College and I am pleased that this has been signed off as parents have been working with the school and myself on this issue – it is vital given the pressure on school places locally and the huge demand for places at Clonturk,” he says.
“The provision of a new school at Clonturk and another additional 1000 pupil school also on the Whitehall campus is a welcome investment in education in our area and will relieve the pressure that many local schools are facing from the many families seeking places.”
The agreement also involves the acquisition by the CDETB of Department of Education property on Cathal Brugha Street, which was formally part of DIT.
The department says that this will further facilitate the development of a centre of excellence for training and skills under its remit.
“The range of post leaving certificate options continues to grow and I am delighted to see the Government invest in our skills sector,” he says.
“The development of the further education sector and the delivery of apprenticeships is vital as we upskill our economy in order to meet the demands of the housing crisis and the National Retrofitting Plan.”