Minister welcomes update on new post-primary school for the Southside
Dale Greenwood 18 Oct 2020
Local TD and Minister at the Department of Education, Josepha Madigan has welcomed the latest news regarding a new post-primary school for the wider Booterstown-Blackrock, Mount Merrion, and Clonskeagh area.
A process has begun to identify a new patron for the school and local parents will shortly be asked to have their say.
Minister Madgian commented: “I am delighted that the Department of Education has agreed to proceed with the establishment of a new secondary school for the Booterstown/Blackrock school planning area. This area also includes significant parts of Mount Merrion, Clonskeagh, and Ardilea.
“The school will be established in 2021 and a patronage process in now under way. Prospective school patrons will now complete applications to the department, and this process will end on 21st October 2020. Once complete, parents and guardians will be asked to submit a preference for which body they would like to have patronage of the new school. The preferences given by parents are one of the key determinants in how the Department will make this decision.
“The decision to establish a new school in this area comes following the Department’s recent updated national review of demographics in the catchment areas of post-primary schools. The other key deciding factor in choosing a patron will be the current diversity of provision of schools in the area.
“The online patronage process system will provide objective information to parents to enable them to make a reasoned choice in expressing their preference. The online system will open to parents to state their preference soon after the deadline for patrons to make their submissions has expired. Please visit the Department of Education’s website, https://www.education.ie/…/Establishing-a-New-School.html, to view this information, and after 21st October have your say.
“There is high demand for school places in our area and I will continue to work with the Department of Education to ensure these needs are met.”
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