Educate Together’s permission for temporary building

The way has been cleared for Drogheda Educate Secondary School to take in an additional 100 pupils next September as planning permission has been granted for new temporary building on the site at Mill Road, Mornington.

The additional temporary accommodation will be put in place over the summer months. Calls have now been made for the permanent school building to be progressed.

“This school is due to welcome almost 100 new first year students for the 2022-23 academic year, but the department of education will still not give a definite timeline on a permanent school building,” said Cllr Elaine McGinty.

She said Deputy Ged Nash had raised the issue with the Minister for Education and will continue to do so until a permanent building is secured.

“Parents, students and teachers are exasperated waiting for this long overdue decision to be made.

“Temporary buildings are not good enough, East Meath and DETSS needs a permanent secondary school fast-tracked."

The school was at the centre of a major row early last year, when it was proposed to temporarily locate the school in the grounds of St Oliver's Community College in Drogheda, which is a 40 minute journey away from its current site.

The proposal to move the school to the Drogheda for the current school year was met with angry opposition.

There was a major outcry by parents, students and the local community at what they described as “a ridiculous decision”.

The Department of Education rowed back on its decision to relocate the school to Drogheda and said it had reached agreement in principle to purchase a permanent site for the school, which incorporates its current temporary site on Mill Road, so that a permanent building can be constructed at the school’s current location.