Fine Gael TD for Dublin Fingal, Alan Farrell, has expressed his delight that Swords & Malahide/Portmarnock have been selected to receive much needed additional secondary schools, to open by September 2017.
“I am delighted that Swords and Malahide/Portmarnock have been identified as requiring additional secondary schools, to open by September 2017, following confirmation from the Department of Education and Skills. With the youngest age demographic in the State, Fingal requires huge investment in schooling to cater for demand.
“As many parents are aware, the need to address the capacity of primary schools across the North County has been of the utmost importance since 2011. Following the substantial investment provided by this Fine Gael led Government in increasing capacity at primary level, it is now essential that we tackle our future secondary capacity requirements head on.
“The importance of this Government’s investment in new secondary level schools not only benefits the educational framework in our community, but it will also provide vital social infrastructure in Swords & Malahide/Portmarnock where population increases and the number of young children continues to grow substantially.
“While the Department of Education and Skills has yet to identify sites for these two new schools, they will open in September 2017 on a temporary basis until such time as suitable locations can be identified and the construction completed, within the 2019-2021 period. I will continue to actively engage with both the Minister and Fingal County Council to identify suitable locations in the coming days and weeks.
“I have long held the view that Malahide & Swords required additional post primary schools to cater for growing demand. As far back as 2006, while still a Councillor, I made numerous enquiries with the planning department of Fingal County Council and the Department of Education and Skills as to the provision of school sites across the North County.
“I am pleased that we finally have certainty in relation to the future of educational infrastructure and capacity in Swords, Malahide and Portmarnock. Both of the new schools announced will cater for up to 1,000 students each and they form just one part of this Government’s investment in education in the North County. As part of this multi-million Euro school building program, fourteen existing schools will receive investment for major school building projects which will address the accommodation requirements at both primary and secondary level in every major town in Dublin Fingal.”
Schools receiving investment for major building projects are as follows:
