The Minister for Education and Skills Joe McHugh T.D. today (20th December) announced that a new primary school will be established in 2020 in Rathcoole, Co Dublin.
The new school for Rathcoole will be the 45th new school to be established between 2019 and 2022 to cater for demographic growth and follows an initial review of oncoming demand in this area as part of the Department’s nationwide demographic review process for primary level provision.
Minister McHugh said:
Rathcoole is an area of growing demographic demand with additional residential development planned for the coming years.
“It is important that we cater for this increased demand in Dublin West and I am pleased to announce today that an 8 classroom school will open in 2020 in the area.
This new school is in addition to the four other primary schools scheduled to open in 2020, including a new gaelscoil in the Saggart/Citywest area.
Mothers, fathers and guardians of children in the Newcastle/Rathcoole area who are due to enrol in primary school from 2020-2024 are being invited to complete an online survey to express their preference for the patron of the new school. The survey will be available at https://patronage.education.gov.ie and will remain open until mid-night on the 26th January.
The Minister urged parents and guardians to give their views on patronage and language of the new school in Rathcoole that will be established next year.
Inviting people to take part in the online survey, Minister McHugh said:
It is a great opportunity for mothers and fathers and guardians to help to shape the education of the future. I urge as many people as possible who live in the area and have children going to primary school in the next few years to make their voices heard.
The Minister said:
I am conscious that the existing schools in Rathcoole are operating at capacity. In relation to the accommodation provision for Gaelscoil Chrónáin, my Department is currently acquiring additional land plots from South Dublin County Council that adjoin the Minister owned site at Gaelscoil Chrónáin. This additional land will offer the opportunity to address the accommodation requirements for Gaelscoil Chrónáin.
The online survey for four other primary schools scheduled to open in 2020 has been open for parental preferences since 28th November. The closing date for these surveys is being extended to mid-night on the 12th January 2020.
The patronage process for new schools is overseen by the independent New Schools Establishment Group (NSEG).
This group, which was set up in 2011 to advise the Minister on the patronage of new schools, will analyse the report on the online surveys and consider other criteria before issuing a recommendation.
Notes for Editors
Details of 5 new primary schools to be established in 2020 in respect of which a patronage process will be undertaken
County | School Planning Area(s) to be served | School Size | Year of Opening | Language Position |
Cork | Carrigaline | 16 classrooms | 2020 | To be determined after the OPPS |
Dublin | Donabate | 16 classrooms | 2020 | Designated Gaelscoil |
Dublin | Newcastle_Rathcoole/Saggart-Citywest* | 8 classrooms | 2020 | Designated Gaelscoil |
Dublin | Sallynoggin_Killiney_DLR/Cherrywood | 16 classrooms | 2020 | To be determined after the OPPS |
Dublin | Newcastle_Rathcoole/Rathcoole** | 8 classrooms | 2020 | To be determined after the OPPS |
* The new school will be located in the Saggart/Citywest area. It is adjacent to the Tallaght School Planning Area in which there is no gaelscoil.
**The new school will be located in the Rathcoole area.
Applicant Patrons for Rathcoole school
- An Foras Pátrúnachta
- Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board
- Educate Together
- Scoil Sinéad Limited
New Schools Establishment Group
The patronage process for new schools is overseen by the New Schools Establishment Group (NSEG). This independent advisory 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 members of the NSEG are:
- Mr. Joe Hamill (Chairperson), 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.
What happens next?
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 survey will be open until midnight on the 12th January 2020 for the four primary schools and until midnight on the 26th January 2020 for the new school announced for Rathcoole.
When the surveys close, the Department will compile a 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.
Who is entitled to give their views?
The Online Patronage Process System (OPPS) is open to parents or guardians of children who are due to enrol in primary school between 2020 and 2024 and who live in one of the school planning areas. Parents and guardians will need their child’s Eircode and PPSN in order to complete the online survey.