Kinnegad school required – Penrose

A call to have funding for a second level school in Kinnegad has been made by the Labour spokesperson for Rural Affairs, Deputy Willie Penrose.

“Kinnegad is the third largest town in Westmeath and has a significant hinterland. It has one of the largest rural primary schools in the county, and yet the area is not served by a local secondary school,” he said.

Deputy Penrose said he had raised this issue with the minister and asked him to consider the significant increase in population in Kinnegad.

“His response mentioned that there are 42 new secondary schools due over the next four years from 2019 to 2022, of which none were for Kinnegad.

“Given the rate of population increase in the area, I believe four years is too long to wait for a review of the issue, and I hope the minister recognises the need for a local post-primary school in the new year.”