Tánaiste steps in amid growing crisis over Louth school space shortages

By Olivia Ryan, The Drogheda Independent

The Tánaiste has agreed to liaise directly with Louth TD Erin McGreehan on ongoing pressures facing school accommodation across County Louth.

The Fianna Fáil TD raised the issue in the Dáil last week, warning that rapid population growth and accelerated housing development are placing significant strain on school infrastructure throughout the county.

Having visited St Mochta’s NS in Louth Village and Monksland NS in Cooley, she said many schools were now teaching in spaces never intended for classroom use. She told the Dáil she has been in regular contact with principals across Louth who are struggling to accommodate rising enrolments.

Deputy McGreehan also criticised a response she had received from the Department of Education, saying she did “not find [it] satisfactory”, and arguing that school accommodation planning is not keeping pace with the level of housing commencements in the county.

“We are building in County Louth at unprecedented rates. Housing development is accelerating and we must now look ahead to ensure that adequate infrastructure is in place to meet these growing demands,” she said.

In reply, the Tánaiste acknowledged the concerns raised and said similar pressures were being experienced in other parts of the country, including his own constituency. He noted that while demographic patterns vary nationwide, population growth remains strongest along the east coast.

He said more localised, county‑level data is required and referenced the newly announced first tranche of the education capital programme — emphasising that it is not the final allocation.

“The Deputy will know that the Minister has announced tranche one of the capital programme. It is not the final word. We do intend to fund many more education projects and I am happy to liaise directly with the Deputy on this matter,” he said.

Sinn Féin TD Ruairí Ó Murchú also highlighted serious accommodation problems affecting schools in Louth.

He told a Dail debate that St Mochtas NS is struggling to keep pace with rapid population growth from a major housing development in Louth Village. Enrolment has risen by 40 pupils in the past year, and a new 58‑home development is expected to require three additional classrooms — with no space available to house them.

Special education staff are now working in corridors, cupboards and the staff room, he said, and the building — originally designed for five classes — is projected to house nine by September 2026.

Deputy Ó Murchú also criticised delays in securing additional autism class provision at Shelagh NS, saying there had been “no real movement” and that the principal and many parents were extremely dissatisfied.

At Monksland NS, he said a planned permanent extension including autism classrooms and specialist rooms has yet to proceed. The school is currently relying on two modular units, which are already at full capacity.

“We are dealing with teachers and SNAs who are having their lunch in storage units or their cars,” he told the Dáil. “The over and back from the Department is disgraceful.”

Minister of State at the Department of Education Michael Moynihan said St Mochtas NS’s application for extra accommodation is under assessment.

He confirmed Monksland NS — with 139 pupils, including two special classes — received modular accommodation in May 2023 following a 2022 application.

Shelagh NS, which has 82 pupils including those in its special education class established in 2024, applied last October for two mainstream classrooms. That application is also being assessed.

Minister Moynihan said national primary enrolments are projected to fall by almost 100,000 over the next decade, and the Department must take this into account.

“Given the general downward direction of overall enrolments in the area, the Department’s focus… will be to analyse the extent to which enrolments at the school and neighbouring schools are serving the local area,” he said.

But Deputy Ó Murchú said schools are “absolutely frustrated”, adding: “In the nicest way I can put it, the communication with the schools has been subpar.”