Laytown land to be used for schools’ sporting facilities
Five acres of land allocated to schools for the provision of sports facilities in the Laytown area is tipped to be a “game changer” for the community.
The Department of Education confirmed that it is licensing its land in Laytown to the LMETB and will be made available to Coláiste na hInse, Scoil Oilibhéir Naofa and Scoil an Spioraid Naoimh. The space will also be available to the wider community
Sports Minister and Meath East TD, Thomas Byrne welcomed the move and the significance of the land being handed over to the LMETB.
“After six months of talks with the Department of Education, I'm thrilled to reveal the land lying idle behind the temporary building of Coláiste na hInse will be handed over to the LMETB.
"It's essential this space is converted into playing facilities for the benefit of all local schools.
"This is fantastic news for Laytown in what will be a big job to get the land ready but I know the ETB is up to the challenge."
Local Fine Gael Cllr Sharon Tolan said the move will be “life changing” for young people in the area. She added:
"It will be a life changer for the entire community, to have access to sporting facilities right in the heart of the Laytown, Bettystown, Donacarney, Mornington area. It is going to be an absolute game changer for families, communities and young people.”
The news has been a long time according to Tolan who says the new facilities will enable sports clubs in the area to further build on their successes. She added:
"Colaiste Na hInse are spending an absolute fortune every year transporting the children and the teams out to play extra curricular soccer and GAA. I want to acknowledge and thank all of the local clubs particularly the soccer clubs and St Colm Cille’s GAA Club that has always supported the schools and made their facilities available to the teams, we couldn’t have done it without them.
"The school has had massive successes in sport despite the fact that they have had no pitches so I can only imagine how far this will go when we get the pitches up and running.”
The local councillor said she hopes the facilities will be shared with the entire community.
"No facilities that are paid for by the tax payer should be locked up and closed from 3pm during the day, they should be made available to the community at evenings and weekends."