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Minister McHugh invites parents to express preference for patronage of 12 primary schools to be established in 2019

The Minister for Education and Skills, Joe McHugh, T.D., has today (10th of December) invited parents to express their preference in relation to the patronage of 12 primary schools to be established in 2019.
Parents are invited to express their patronage preferences using the Department’s new Online Patronage Process System (OPPS) website https://patronage.education.gov.ie
This system has been developed to provide objective information to all parents and guardians which will allow them to make an informed choice in expressing a preference for a patronage model and language of instruction for their child’s education.
The 12 primary schools will serve the following school planning areas:

  • · Booterstown_Blackrock
  • · Donaghmede_Howth_D13
  • · Dublin6_Clonskeagh & Dublin_6W (Regional Solution)
  • · Dunshaughlin
  • · Glasheen_CorkCity/Pouladuff
  • · Goatstown_Stillorgan_DLR
  • · Kilcoole/Newtownmountkennedy
  • · Killester_Raheny_Clontarf
  • · Leixlip
  • · Maynooth
  • · Swords/North
  • · Swords/South

Today’s invitation follows on from the Government’s announcement of the establishment of 42 new schools over the next four years from 2019 to 2022.

Minister McHugh said: “We are fortunate in Ireland to have a growing population. However, this growth puts pressure on our public services. If we are to have a world class education and training system we must ensure that we adequately prepare for this future need by planning necessary modern school facilities now.”

These planned new schools were decided following on from a nationwide, forward-planning exercise carried out by the Department into the future need for primary and post-primary schools across the country. The four year horizon will enable increased lead-in times for planning and delivery of the schools.

The Department has appointed a Project Manager to assist in the procurement of interim school accommodation for the schools opening in September 2019 and potential interim accommodation solution options have been identified for the majority of these schools.

The patronage process, which is commencing today, will run until the 15th of January 2019.

The patronage process for the remaining schools will be run at a later date, significantly ahead of their planned opening.

Inviting patronage preferences from interested parents/guardians today, Minister McHugh said: “Parental preferences for each patron along with the diversity currently available in these areas of growing population are key to decisions in relation to the outcome of this process.

“I encourage all parents of children who will be starting school in the next 5 years to engage with the process. This is your opportunity to make your views known and help to shape the education of the future.”

The patronage process for new schools is overseen by the independent New Schools Establishment Group (NSEG). This Group was set up in 2011 to advise the Minister on the patronage of new schools following its consideration of a report prepared by the Department on the applications received.

Notes for Editors
Details of 12 new primary schools to be established in 2019:

  • Booterstown_Blackrock;
  • Donaghmede_Howth_D13; 
  • Dublin6_Clonskeagh & Dublin_6W (Regional Solution); 
  • Dunshaughlin
  • Glasheen_CorkCity/Pouladuff
  • Goatstown_Stillorgan_DLR
  • Kilcoole/Newtownmountkennedy
  • Killester_Raheny_Clontarf
  • Leixlip
  • Maynooth
  • Swords/South
  • Swords/North


Applicant Patrons for each school:

Booterstown_Blackrock

  • An Foras Pátrúnachta
  • Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board
  • Educate Together
  • Lifeways Ireland CLG 
  • Scoil Sinéad Limited
  • St Nicholas Montessori Society of Ireland


Donaghmede_Howth_D13

  • An Foras Pátrúnachta
  • City of Dublin Education and Training Board
  • Educate Together
  • Lifeways Ireland CLG 
  • Scoil Sinéad Limited


Dublin6_Clonskeagh & Dublin_6W (Regional Solution)

  • An Foras Pátrúnachta
  • City of Dublin Education and Training Board
  • Educate Together
  • Lifeways Ireland CLG 
  • Scoil Sinéad Limited


Dunshaughlin

  • An Foras Pátrúnachta
  • Educate Together
  • Louth and Meath Education and Training Board
  • Scoil Sinéad Limited


Glasheen_CorkCity/Pouladuff

  • An Foras Pátrúnachta
  • Cork Education and Training Board
  • Educate Together
  • Scoil Sinéad Limited


Goatstown_Stillorgan_DLR

  • An Foras Pátrúnachta
  • Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board
  • Educate Together
  • Lifeways Ireland CLG 
  • Scoil Sinéad Limited


Kilcoole/Newtownmountkennedy

  • An Foras Pátrúnachta
  • Educate Together
  • Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board
  • Scoil Sinead Limited


Killester_Raheny_Clontarf

  • An Foras Pátrúnachta
  • City of Dublin Education and Training Board
  • Educate Together
  • Lifeways Ireland CLG 
  • Scoil Sinéad Limited


Leixlip

  • An Foras Pátrúnachta
  • Educate Together
  • Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board
  • · Scoil Sinéad Limited


Maynooth

  • An Foras Pátrúnachta
  • Educate Together
  • · Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board
  • · Scoil Sinéad Limited
  • · The Bishop of Meath and Kildare (COI)


Swords/North

  • An Foras Pátrúnachta
  • Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board
  • Educate Together
  • · Scoil Sinéad Limited


Swords/South
An Foras Pátrúnachta
Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board
Educate Together
· Scoil Sinéad Limited

The New Schools Establishment Group
The patronage process for new schools is overseen by the New Schools Establishment Group (NSEG). This Group was set up in 2011 to advise the Minister on the patronage of new schools following its consideration of a report prepared by the Department on the applications received.
The current members of the NSEG are:
Mr. Joe Hamill, Retired Secretary General of the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs;
Professor Gerry Mac Ruairc, Head, School of Education, National University of Ireland Galway;
Professor Sarah Moore, Professor of Teaching and Learning, University of Limerick.

Drumcondra_Marino_Dublin1
With regard to the primary school to serve the Drumcondra_Marino_Dublin 1 school planning area to be established in 2019, the New Schools Establishment Group (NSEG) advised that a new patronage process was not required in this specific case and recommended that the new school to be established in 2019 to serve the Drumcondra_Marino_Dublin 1 school planning area should be a Gaelscoil under the patronage of An Foras Pátrúnachta. In line with the recommendations of the NSEG, patronage of this school has been awarded to An Foras Pátrúnachta.

Next steps
The new Online Patronage Process System (OPPS) website will provide objective information to all parents which will allow them to make an informed choice in expressing a preference for their preferred model of patronage and language of instruction for their child’s education.
The Department will subsequently compile a patronage report for the consideration of the New Schools Establishment Group (NSEG) and the NSEG will submit a report with recommendations for consideration by the Minister.

Timeline for remaining patronage processes (2020 – 2022)
The patronage processes for the remaining schools (2020 – 2022) will be run at a later date, significantly ahead of their planned opening. The following are the anticipated timeframes for the remaining processes:

  • · The patronage process for new schools to be established in 2020 will commence in 2019; 
  • · The patronage process for new schools to be established in 2021 will commence in 2020; and 
  • · The patronage process for new schools to be established in 2022 will commence in 2021.


Patronage commitments
The Applicant Patron(s) will have to satisfy the following requirements, by confirming to:

  • Operate by the rules and regulations laid down in various Department of Education and Skills circulars and operating procedures and to follow the prescribed curriculum;
  • Operate the school within the resourcing and policy parameters established by the Department of Education and Skills;
  • Prioritise enrolment of children in the area(s) for which the Department has identified the need for a school;
  • Accept and open special education facilities;
  • Have up to three streams subject to demand for the school; 
  • Enter into the appropriate standard lease agreement with the Department of Education and Skills;
  • Share school buildings with other schools as may be determined by the Department should the building not be in full use;
  • Be part of a campus development with other primary or second-level schools as identified by the Department; and
  • Identify and source suitable interim accommodation, where deemed necessary by the Department, within the parameters set by the Department.