Funding for Dunshaughlin Community College's major extension has been confirmed this week with the announcement of a €100 million loan from the European Investment Bank for school building works.

Meath TD Dominic Hannigan has welcomed the news.

"As Chair of the Oireachtas European Affairs Committee I'm delighted with the EIB's decision to actively support the Government's plans to invest in the country's educational infrastructure. It means funding is now cast iron secure for two school building projects in Meath, Dunshaughlin College and new boys and girls school buildings for pupils of Realt Na Mara school in Donacarney," he said.

The deputy also suggested that the school building programme will bring jobs to the county.

"It will make a small but not insignificant contribution to job creation here. As well as creating new jobs in construction the building programme will have a positive knock on effect for local businesses," he added.

Speaking about the EIB funding, Deputy Hannigan said the €100 million loan to the Department of Education will be managed by the National Treasury Management Agency on behalf of the State, and that construction work is expected to be finished by 2014.