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KFC has received planning permission for a new drive-through restaurant in close proximity to the entrance of a secondary school in Navan, but concerns have been expressed about the potential ill effects to pupils’ health.

Despite these objections, the proposal is being welcomed in other quarters as it will create an estimated 40 jobs and help boost the local economy.

Mary Mulligan is principal of St. Joseph’s Convent of Mercy, the school in question, and Shane Cassells is a Navan town councillor. They spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning:

Mary says "I already feel that Navan is well serviced by fast food outlets, but my feeling is we don't need another one. I would never put economics before the health of children... you're living in an unreal world if you think that all children will continuously make healthy choices. We need to teach children well - that's what we're trying to do - but to have a fast food restaurant at my school gate makes it more difficult for me".

Cassells argues "any day that 40 jobs are being created in any town in Ireland is positive... from the development of town core point of view, it's also really important. From a health point of view... I trust our young people, with the help of good education, to know if you're going down to a fast food outlet every day, it's not going to be healthy."

Navan is not the first town where these issues have been debated. Planning permission for a new McDonalds restaurant in Greystones, Co. Wicklow was recently granted despite many complaints that the restaurant was going to be located too near to local schools.

Do you think fast food restaurants should be allowed near schools? Is it an unreasonable and impractical demand that outlets need to be located away from schools? Are the potential health or economic consequences being over-exaggerated? Vote in our poll and leave your comments below.