Additional accommodation sought for Dún An Rí College

The Minister for Education is being asked to sanction an application for additional accommodation for Colaiste Dún an Rí in Kingscourt.

The school under the auspices of the Cavan-Monaghan ETB is already bursting at the seams despite only opening its doors four years ago. It has 530 students, and a further 145 expected to seek enrolment come September 2021.

It’s understood the additional accommodation sought is approximately half the size of the existing school on a 14-acre site at Turner’s Hill.

The area of the existing building is around 6,000 sq m and includes a standalone PE hall, a special needs unit and a fitness suite.

But student numbers have boomed in Kingscourt after the initial intake of just 165 made history in the town by stepping over the threshold in August 2016.

Pushing Minister Norma Foley on the subject is local councillor and CMETB chair Clifford Kelly, who campaigned for the facility to be built in the town over a period of almost 40 years.

Cllr Kelly (FF) toldThe Anglo-Celtthe school enrolment at present even “considerably exceeds” the projected attendance when first built.

“As a Board of Management we are aware of the very strong intake of first year students next August and this will create additional pressures on the existing classroom accommodation,” he said.

Cllr Kelly predicts attendance will continue to grow as a result of increasing enrolment at the local feeder primary schools, which include St Joseph’s NS and Cabra Central School, Kingscourt; Laragh NS, Muff; Shercock NS; St Joseph’s NS, Corlea; Carrickleck NS; St Bridgid’s NS, Meath Hill and Drumgosset NS, Magheracloone.

“The ETB, the Parents Association and the Board of Management of Coláiste Dún an Rí are all very anxious that the application under the Department’s Additional School Accommodation Scheme should be approved by the minister without further delay,” said Cllr Kelly who adds that Deputy Brendan Smith has also “strongly supported” the ETB application.

“He has been informed by Minister Foley that it is being assessed by her officials at present. At a recent meeting with the parents’ association, Brendan Smith stated that he would raise again directly with the education minister the accommodation needs of the school. We need progress on this issue,” said Cllr Kelly.