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The Minister for Education and Skills, Richard Bruton, T.D., has today invited school patron bodies/prospective school patron bodies to apply for the patronage of four new primary schools due to be established in September 2017 and September 2018.

Today’s invitation follows on from the announcement in November 2015 of a major programme of capital investment in schools which includes the establishment of these four new primary schools in order to meet increasing demographic demand.

Three of the schools are due to open in September 2017 and will serve the following areas:

· Ballincollig, Co Cork
· Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin
· Pelletstown, Dublin 7

The remaining school is due to open in September 2018 and will serve the following school planning areas:

· Dublin South City Centre (Dublin 2, 4 and 6)

Inviting applications from interested patrons/prospective patrons today, Minister Bruton said “the basic aim of this Government is to use our economic success to create a fair and compassionate society. In few areas is there as much capacity to deliver on this as in education. As part of this, we are determined to provide more choice for parents. As a country we are experiencing a significant, ongoing, increase in our school-going population. The establishment of these new schools forms an essential part of plans to ensure that sufficient new school places are in place to cater for the growing cohort of pupils at post-primary level over the coming years. Additional places will also continue to be provided by extending existing provision, as included in the Six Year Programme of Capital Investment in Schools 2016-2021. Parental demand is one of the key considerations in deciding on the patronage of these four new primary schools and I urge patrons to engage with parents in the relevant school planning areas in this regard.”

The schools will be established in line with the requirements and criteria for the patronage of new schools. These requirements and criteria are published on the Department’s website and will also be provided to prospective applicants. Applicants must confirm they will comply with each of the requirements and criteria in order for their application to be processed. Parental preferences from parents of children living in the areas to be served by the schools, along with the extent of diversity in the areas, will be key factors in deciding on the patronage of each school. In this regard, patron applicants are reminded that only valid parental preferences from the areas to be served by the schools will be taken into account. As part of the process, parents have an opportunity to express their preference for their preferred patron body and also to express their preference for their child to be educated through the medium of Irish or of English. Patron applicants are also reminded that the code of conduct is mandatory.

See link.


Notes for Editors

Details of new schools to be opened in September 2017 and September 2018

Ø Ballincollig, Co Cork – 2017
Ø Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin – 2017
Ø Pelletstown, Dublin 7 - in the Scribblestown/Finglas West school planning area - 2017
Ø Dublin South City Centre - 2018

New Schools Establishment Group
The patronage process for new schools is overseen by the New Schools Establishment Group (NSEG).

This NSEG was set up in 2011 to advise the Minister on the patronage of new schools following its consideration of a report to be prepared by the Department on the applications received.

Next steps
The Department will shortly inform patrons/prospective patron bodies of the details of the 2017 and 2018 schools requiring a patronage process and outline the mandatory requirements and criteria involved in the process. The patrons/prospective patron bodies may then make applications for consideration. The Department will prepare a report based on the applications received for the consideration of the NSEG who will submit a report with recommendations for consideration by the Minister.