Text size

Minister Quinn announces patronage of 14 new Post-Primary schools to be established in 2013 and 2014

July 25, 2012

The Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn T.D., today announced his decisions on the patronage of new post-primary schools to be established in 2013 and 2014.

The successful patrons are:

  • Blanchardstown West, Dublin 15 – Educate Together
  • Drogheda, Co. Louth – Joint patronage County Louth VEC and Educate Together
  • Mulhuddart, Dublin 15 – Le Chéile Schools Trust
  • Greystones, Co. Wicklow – Church of Ireland
  • Lusk, Co. Dublin – County Dublin VEC
  • Claregalway, Co. Galway – County Galway VEC
  • Naas, Co. Kildare – County Kildare VEC
  • Navan, Co. Meath – County Meath VEC
  • Maynooth, Co. Kildare – County Kildare VEC
  • Dundalk, Co. Louth – County Louth VEC
  • Ashbourne, Co. Meath – County Meath VEC
  • *Balbriggan, Co. Dublin – An Foras Pátrúnachta
  • *Dundrum, Co. Dublin – An Foras Pátrúnachta
  • *CorkCity – South Suburbs/ Carrigaline – County Cork VEC

*These schools will be Gaelcholáistaí providing instruction through the medium of Irish

Announcing the patronage of the new schools, Minister Quinn said, “In making the decisions on the patronage of these new schools I was particularly conscious of taking into account the clear parental demand for plurality and diversity of patronage.  The successful patrons include those of a Catholic ethos, Church of Ireland ethos, multi-denominational and Gaelcholáistaí.”

“I am particularly pleased that Educate Together will be patron in one school and co-patron in a second school, given that ET was officially recognised by me as a second level patron just one year ago. I am also pleased that for the first time in a generation a new Catholic and a new Church of Ireland voluntary secondary school are to open.  This demonstrates clearly that I and the Department are committed to diversity of ethos and respect for parental choice.”

“I am confident that these new schools, alongside the existing schools in each area, will mean that parents and students have real choice when it comes to deciding which school most reflects their own ethos.”

Today’s announcement is the culmination of the process which began in June 2011 when the Minister announced that 20 new post-primary schools were to be established up to 2017 across a number of locations to cater for increasing pupil numbers.

At that time the Minister also announced new criteria and arrangements for the recognition of the new schools. The arrangements included the establishment of a New Schools Establishment Group, an independent advisory group, to advise the Minister on the patronage of the new schools following its consideration of a report prepared by Department officials. The New Schools Establishment Group reported to the Minister at the end of June.

Patrons were asked to provide evidence of parental demand when making an application for a new school. In addition, the criteria used in deciding on patronage included how the proposed schools under the respective patrons would provide for extending or strengthening diversity of provision in each area, having regard to the views of parents.

The Minister expressed his thanks to the members of the New Schools Establishment Group for their valuable input to the process. Minister Quinn said, “I initiated the revised system for the establishment of new schools and the appointment of the school patron so that it would be an objective and transparent process. The role of the New Schools Establishment Group is critical to achieving these aims and I want to thank them for their work in this area.”

Department officials will shortly contact each of the patron bodies in regard to the logistics of the establishment of these new schools.

Four new post-primary schools will open in September 2013, all of which will be under the patronage of the local Vocational Educational Committee (VEC).

Ten new post-primary schools will open in September 2014.  Of these, four will be under VEC patronage, one will be under the patronage of Le Chéile Schools Trust, two will be under the patronage of An Foras Pátrúnachta, one will be under the patronage of the Church of Ireland, one will be under the Patronage of Educate Together and one school will be under the joint patronage of a VEC and Educate Together.

In the case of both Maynooth, Co. Kildare and Balbriggan, Co. Dublin, the Department noted the high level of parental demand identified as part of this process for alternative language provision in these areas.  In light of this, the Department will be making provision to cater for this alternative demand in both of these areas in the medium term.

The report of the New Schools Establishment Group to the Minister can be found at http://www.education.ie/en/Schools-Colleges/Information/Establishing-a-New-School/New-Primary-Schools/?pageNumber=2. Minister Quinn accepted the recommendations of the Group in all cases.