Eureka loses out as govt's schools plan unveiled

Anger has been expressed at the omission of the long-awaited new Eureka Secondary School in Kells from the Department of Education's five-year plan for major school building projects in the period 2012 to 2016. Eureka has a current enrolment of 740 students. A recent submission by the school's board Of management to the Kells Development Plan drew attention to some of the conditions in the existing school, which include 16 prefabricated classrooms. The canteen can cater for only 350 pupils and 40 per cent of science classes are held in ordinary classes rather than science labs. No classrooms have enough space to contain a teacher's desk and can contain a maximum of 30 desks when squeezed together. Cllr Sean Drew has expressed his frustration and disappointment at the government's decision. "The minister announced the development of 157 new schools as part of a €2 billion investment programme but has not seen fit to include the much-needed new Eureka in Kells," he said.