Minister’s promises on new Fingal schools need to be urgently met

Local Fianna Fáil TD, Darragh O’Brien has said that the commitment to construct a number of schools in Fingal should be cautiously welcomed considered they have been previously announced and little movement made on their development.
Deputy O’Brien made the comments after Minister Bruton set out plans to build 42 new schools, despite not having delivered on previous school building commitments to date.
The Deputy said, “I've been raising the urgent need for extra school places in Dublin Fingal in Dáil Éireann for far too long now. I am glad that Fianna Fáil’s extensive lobbying for these schools builds had resulted in some progress on the need to extend school places in our area.
“The surge in population in the North County in recent years has exacerbated the chronic shortage of school places. Fingal is a particularly young population and combined with high birth rates, it can only be expected that the current lack of sufficient capacity in our schools will continue to worsen and come under significant pressure.
“I am of course pleased to see any proposal to develop two schools for Swords, one in Donabate as well as a new secondary schools Swords & another in Malahide/Portmarnock -  I am however, concerned that this is simply another announcement.
“Some of the school projects announced for our area this morning were previously promised two years ago. It is absolutely crucial that planning and design are undertaken immediately to allow construction start as soon as possible so that they can serve the future educational needs in the north county.
“These new school building projects are critically needed but the real test of today’s Government announcement will be the delivery,” concluded Deputy O’Brien.