Parents Urged to Take Part in Patronage Process

Posted by Schooldays Newshound, on 09/09/2019. Parents Urged to Take Part in Patronage Process

Tags: Parenting Education

The Minister for Education and Skills Joe McHugh T.D. has today (Monday 9 September) urged parents and guardians to give their views on patronage for six new schools being established next year.

Mothers, fathers and guardians of children who are due to enrol in post-primary school from 2020-2024 in parts of Dublin, Meath/Kildare and Wicklow are being invited to complete the online survey.

The new post-primary schools are being established in September 2020 following on from the Government’s commitment to invest heavily in education, with the establishment of 44 new schools in total between 2019 and 2022.

The online survey for parents can be accessed here

It will remain open until 4 October for six post-primary schools which will serve the following areas:

Area
School Planning Area
School Size*

Dublin 15
Blanchardstown_West_D15 & BlanchardstownVillage_D15
800

Goatstown
Goatstown_Stillorgan_Dun Laoghaire Rathdown
800

Enfield
Kilcock
500

Citywest/Saggart
Tallaght & Newcastle_Rathcoole
1000

Harold’s Cross
Dublin 6_Clonskeagh & Dublin6W
1000

Wicklow
Kilcoole & Greystones
800

*based on projected need but will be responsive to demographic demand

Parents and guardians can use the online survey to select which model of patronage they prefer and whether they would prefer English or Irish as the language of instruction.

Minister McHugh said: “We are fortunate to have a growing population and a Government that is investing heavily in new schools.

“But we need parents’ support to ensure we reflect the views of families in the areas where we have younger and growing populations.

“It is a great opportunity for mothers and fathers and guardians to help to shape the education of the future.

“The wishes of parents and guardians, together with the extent of diversity already available in these areas, will be key to deciding the type of schools we will have in the future. I urge as many people as possible who live in the areas and have children going to post-primary school in the next few years to make their voices heard.”

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 to the Minister.

Source: education.ie