Northside school campaign pays off

EDUCATE Together has been awarded patronage of four second-level schools, to be opened in 2019, including one on the Northside. 

The new schools will open in Donaghmede/Belmayne (1,000 pupils), Drogheda ETSS (600 pupils), Wicklow ETSS (600 pupils), and Galway ETSS (1,000 pupils).

The opening of the Online Patronage Process Survey was announced on June 22 and closed on July 31. Families in the four areas were requested to visit a Department of Education and Skills-run website and choose their preferred patron.

Paul Rowe, chief executive of Educate Together, paid tribute to all the volunteers who stepped up to campaign for the schools. 

“This is true people power and the opening of these equality-based schools is their achievement,” said Mr Rowe. 

“These volunteers have been giving up their free time canvassing at shopping centres, delivering leaflets and talking to other parents about what Educate Together means to them and their children. “They are doing all this for their children, local families and the wider community – Educate Together would be nothing without the support of these committed volunteers. 

“We are looking forward to working with these communities to nurture four brand new second-level school communities.”

Sandra Adams, who is part of the Dublin 13 Educate Together Second-Level Start-up Group, said: “We are pleased with the Department of Education's decision to award the patronage of the new Dublin 13 second level school to Educate Together. 

“It has been a long road for parents and students who have worked tirelessly to secure a second level progression path that recognises the value of inclusiveness. 

“This is only the first phase in the process to deliver a fully functioning, adequately resourced second level Educate Together school for Dublin 13. 

“We hope that a permanent building will be open within two years so that children who chose Educate Together secondary schooling are not disadvantaged."

Principal recruitment for these schools will begin shortly. Parents who expressed interest will be also contacted shortly and the admissions process for the schools will open in the coming weeks.

Accommodation has not yet been confirmed for any of the schools.

Senator Catherine Noone, a Fine Gael candidate for Dublin Bay North in the next general election, said: “This is great news for the people of Dublin Bay North, the new school will be established by September 2019 and will help ease the burden on our local schools. 

“As our community’s population continues to grow, these kind of projects will prove invaluable and allow students and parents to know that there will be a local option for their education.  

“The decision to award patronage of the new school to Educate Together is also a very welcome development as it reflects the direct input of parental preferences.”

Senator Noone added: “The school will be housed in interim accommodation until the completion of a permanent building and will provide a much needed service to our community.”