Co Leitrim is to get a new school - but construction work is not due to begin on Ballinamore's new secondary school until early 2012.

Ballinamore is believed to be one of eight schools that approved for inclusion in the third Bundle of schools to be procured via the recent Public Private Partnership deals.

Outline planning permission has already been granted for the Ballinamore school and according to the Department of Education "subject to the tendering process," it is expected that construction of Ballinamore Community School "will commence in early 2012."

Under the PPP model, the schools will be designed, built, financed and maintained for 25 years by the successful tenderer.

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This step forward for the new school will be a welcome reprieve for the town which has suffered two unsolved arson attacks on Meanscoil Fatima this year.

Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills, Mary Coughlan said she was delighted to "announce that approval to the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) to commence the procurement of the project on behalf of the Department has issued".

"I wish to pay tribute to all those involved in bringing the projects to this stage, particularly the management and principals of the schools," she stated.

The new school which will be constructed across from the Sean O'Heslin football field on the Enniskillen/ Swanlinbar road will provide new accommodation for 400 students.

The school is expected to include seven classrooms, two lecture rooms, music and drama area, a maths and social studies room, as well as two science laboratories, art and craft, home economics and other specialist rooms.

A state of the art PE hall will also be provided along with four hard play areas and a playing pitch.

(BMcC/GK)