Outrage as Ashbourne schools miss out on national development plan
A secondary school in Meath is operating at more than double its intended capacity, as Ashbourne schools “lose out” in the Government’s latest education infrastructure plan.
Built to accommodate 450 students, Coláiste De Lacy now has an enrolment of approximately 930, underscoring mounting pressure on educational facilities in the rapidly growing area.
Despite this, no schools in Ashbourne were included in the National Development Plan (NDP) Education and Youth Sectoral Plan for 2026–2027.
Ashbourne is the second largest town in Meath after Navan; however, three schools in Navan were included in the plan, while none were allocated for Ashbourne.
Sinn Féin councillor Helen Meyer, who represents the Ashbourne Municipal District, described the omission as “extremely frustrating” and warned it reflects a lack of forward planning.
“Overcrowded schools in Ashbourne and indeed right across the county will be of no surprise to anyone, considering the major population increase in recent years,” she said.
“There is planning permission for over 1,000 new homes in Ashbourne. I have no doubt this will increase the need for additional classrooms and other school facilities to accommodate heightened demand.”
Planning permission has already been granted for an extension to Coláiste De Lacy, but no funding has been allocated for the project over the next two years under the NDP.
The secondary school first welcomed students in 2014 and has grown significantly since.
“This is a major lack of foresight and will only add pressure to schools that are already crowded and struggling to accommodate the current number of students,” the councillor added.
She said she will continue to raise the issue alongside party colleague Darren O’Rourke at both local and national level “until schools in Meath are provided with the funding and resources to properly accommodate an ever-growing number of students in the area”.