The Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairi Quinn TD, today attended the official opening of Tullamore Educate Together, Co Offaly.
The school, which was completed in 2008, has 150 pupils and a staff of 12.
Speaking at the school today, Minister Quinn said he was delighted to share the speech making with Paul Rowe from Educate Together who performed the official opening.
"Paul and his team have done and continue to do terrific work in developing, disseminating and supporting Educate Together schools all over the country.
"Diversity of school patronage is something I am very committed to and I am currently working closely with church bodies, Educate Together, the VECs, and other groups as well, to achieve greater diversity in a well-planned way.
"I am heartened to note that this school caters for a large number of pupils from very different backgrounds, including newcomer students especially those who have come from Eastern Europe.
"Tullamore has also a large Irish Traveller population and I am glad that this school already plays its part in their continued successful integration in mainstream schools.
"The investment in new and re-furbished schools should always be money well spent.
"Even in these very difficult times, investment in the future of our young people is a vital part of both our economic recovery and our continued social and educational progress.
"This is why our government has very recently allocated an extra €30 million for school building related work."
The Minister commended the school’s principal, Cathy Lyons, teachers, parents, pupils and the local community for working so diligently on this project.
"I congratulate all of those involved in the project and in the daily life of the school," said the Minister.