Meath South East News, Edition 26

NEW SCHOOL BUILDS STILL AWAITING CONSTRUCTION AFTER YEARS OF WAITING

Primary and secondary schools across County Meath are still awaiting construction on much needed new buildings and extensions, some waiting for years, despite many already having planning permission approved.

Delays in construction of new school buildings and extensions are occurring across county Meath for the past few years with local residents and politicians now in uproar over the unexplained absence of construction work. This includes school buildings in Dunshaughlin, Stamullen, Dunboyne and Lismullen

Sinn Féin TD Darren O’Rourke said in the Dáil a growing number of schools close to the Dublin commuter belt were being left in the dark by

the delays.

“There have been many Topical Issues and written questions from across the political spectrum asking the question as to why projects are not proceeding at the pace they were intended to,” O’Rourke said.

“That is the position right across the country but particularly in the Dublin region or greater Dublin area.”

Students and staff in Lismullen National School are forced to wear coats and hats indoors on a daily basis to keep warm. This is despite the recently resigned Josepha Madigan saying only just last month that a new 16 classroom facility in Lismullen NS was a priority for the government.

ByEoinRyan

Principal of Lismullen NS told LMFM the school has been waiting 17 years for a new building to be constructed as the class-

Thomas Byrne held a meeting with Principal Violet Molloy to discuss the urgent need of developing a new school building.

rooms are not deemed to be up to Department of Education standards.

Meath Cathaoirleach Tommy Reilly and Meath TD

Tommy Reilly said he has been in contact with Minister Foley and that “the Lismullen new build saga is running on way too long

and I fully understand the sense of anger felt by the staff and the parents of pupils. When you look at the facilities available to other schools locally, it is a crying shame that children and staff in Lismullen are being left to work and learn in such conditions.”

Dunshaughlin Community National School and Coláiste Ríoga in Dunshaughlin applied for planning four years ago but have still not begun construction on their extensions and main buildings with both still accommodating their students using temporary prefabs. Parents of Dunshaughlin Community National School students, those already in the school and also those due to start in September, held a public meeting to pressure those

involved in the project to speed up its delivery. Several councillors, Meath TD Darren O’Rourke and LMETB Chairperson Martin O’Brien were also in attendance.Dunshaughlin National School has planning permission in place for a new eight-classroom school which will be built on the same campus as Colaiste Ríoga, but are still awaiting its construction.

80 children currently attend the school with 30 more starting in September. Parents were told that another prefab would be required to accommodate the incoming class while students are currently being taught in prefabs at Dunshaughlin’s GAA club located at the other side of town.

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ByEoinRyan

THE FORGOTTEN ATHLUMNEY CASTLE OF NAVAN

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ByAodhanTomkins

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ByCillianSheeran

Hundreds of Bikers set to highlight Suicide prevention & Awareness by riding into Wicklow Mountains.

On May 11th , Motorcycle enthusiasts from all across Ireland are set to take part in a new first of its kind event ! Devils Disciples MC & Meath Bike Meets aim to raise awareness about suicide prevention within the motorcycling community

Organizers from Devils Disciples MC & Meath Bike Meets have said we have teamed up with Sosad Ireland and want to do something to highlight the problem of suicide within our community by taking our bikes through the towns & villages of Ireland and into Wicklow stopping at Turlough Hill carpark where we will welcome “ A New Dawn” as the sun rises over the Wicklow mountains”

There will be refreshments available on arrival.

Pre registering is being encouraged and can be done through the following link

https://register.enthuse.com/ps/event/ANewDawnTheRideOut2024

The event will be preceded by a wellness seminar called “Mindset Mastery” on April 11th hosted online by John Power of Powerhouse Consultants, a Devils Disciples MC member. Registration for the seminar can be done through the following link

Event Link http://subscribepage.io/mindsetmastery Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/powerhouseconsultants1

Further information available from

Sosad Ireland facebook page

Meath Bike Meets Facebook page

Devils Disciples MC Ireland Facebook page.

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