Tallaght parents discuss new Educate Together school

LOCAL parents
gathered in Tallaght last Thursday (September 15) to discuss plans for a new
Educate Together primary school for the area.

Representatives
from the Tallaght Citywest Educate Together Association met parents in Rua Red,
South Dublin Arts Centre, to further efforts to establish a school in the area.

Local parents
have been calling for the opening of an Educate Together school in Tallaght
since 2008.

With pressure on
existing school places the Department of Education is planning to open three
new schools in Dublin 24.

The group hopes
that Educate Together will get patronage of one or more of the schools.

Group
chairperson, Sinead Harrington, said Educate Together had schools across
Dublin, but none in Tallaght, the city’s biggest suburb.

“They have a
great reputation and demand for places are very high,

? she said.

“There are
parents in Tallaght who travel long distances to bring their children to an
Educate Together school.

“It would be
fantastic for Tallaght if one of the new schools proposed could be under their
patronage.

?

Saggart Abbey
resident Leona McMahon, is hopeful the Educate Together school gets the go
ahead.

“Our daughter,
Chéile, has just started in Blessington Educate Together National School,

? Ms
McMahon said.

“My husband Mick had to give up his job so he could be free to
bring her to school and back. An Educate Together school nearby would be great
and would make our lives a lot easier.

?

Educate Together
has 60 schools nationwide and hopes to open many more in the coming years. It
works with local communities to establish the viability of a new school and in
Tallaght they already have 115 children pre-enroled.

Local political
representatives from all parties have also been supportive of the campaign,
according to Ms Harrington.

“Citywest,
West Tallaght and Firhouse/Oldbawn will all have new schools built in 2012 and
2013,

? she said.

“The Department
of Education and Skills’ new policy for diversity of school type means that
Educate Together has a great chance of patronage. It is what many local parents
have been calling for, for years.

?