merrion street

The Minister for Education and Skills, Jan O’Sullivan TD, today (Tuesday 3 May) announced 1 September 2016 as the planned date for finalising the formal transfer of patronage of the eleven Community National Schools to the relevant Education and Training Boards.
The Community National School (CNS) model is aimed at responding to increasing societal diversity and demand for greater choice in education provision at primary school level in Ireland. The first CNS was established in Dublin 15 in 2008.

‘Community National schools are characterised by an ethos of inclusion, equality and harmony, where each child and member of the school community is valued and treated with respect. They are multi-belief, and welcome and respect children of all beliefs and none,’ the Minister said. ‘Community National Schools have proved to be a rich addition to the choice of school type available to parents and the schools have grown rapidly since their establishment’.
The transfer of patronage with effect from 1 September 2016 will coincide with the start of the 2016/17 school year. This will facilitate the inclusion of the parents of newly enrolled pupils and new teachers in the election process for a Board of Management in each of these schools. It is envisaged that the process of appointing a Board of Management will be commenced by the relevant ETBs immediately after the transfer of patronage with Boards being established by November 2016.
The Minister said that “It has always been the intention that Community National Schools would operate under ETB patronage and the ETBs have had an active role in their development since their establishment”. She went on to say that “the Department will work with the ETBs and other relevant stakeholders to ensure that the detailed arrangements for the formal transfer of patronage are finalised before September”.
Ends.
Notes for Editors:

There are a total of eleven Community National Schools in various locations around the country - in Counties Dublin, Meath, Kildare, Wicklow and Cork. Until now, the schools have been operating under the temporary patronage of the Minister for Education and Skills.
The schools aim to cater for children of all faiths and none and aim to provide religious education and faith nurturing during schools hours to pupils of all faith backgrounds while also catering for children of non-faith or non-theist backgrounds.
The schools, and their relevant Education and Training Board are as follows:
Dublin & Dun Laoghaire ETB:
· Scoil Choilm, Dublin 15
· Scoil Ghrainne, Dublin 15
· Scoil Chormaic, Balbriggan, Co Dublin
· Citywest & Saggart CNS, Citywest, Dublin 24
· Lucan CNS, Lucan
· Scoil Aoife, Tallaght

Kildare & Wicklow ETB:
· Naas CNS, Naas Co Kildare
· Greystones, CNS, Greystones, Co. Wicklow

Louth & Meath ETB:
· Scoil Ard Rí, Navan Co Meath

Cork ETB:
· Scoil Aonghusa, Mallow Co. Cork
· Scoil Chliodhna, Carrigtwohill, Co. Cork