Educate Together's plans to become the patron of six new secondary schools in Ireland are being supported by thousands of parents, it has been claimed.

According to the patron body, more than 6,000 mums and dads are backing the bids to run multi-denominational schools in north County Wicklow, Carrigaline and Midleton/Carrigtwohill in County Cork, Celbridge in County Kildare and Balbriggan and Ballinteer in County Dublin, the Irish Independent reports.

It was revealed that more than one-third of support for the bids came from north Wicklow alone. The deadline for submitting patron applications was last week - and Educate Together bidded to become the patron of six out of a possible eight new post-primary schools.

The other two areas set to see new schools opening in 2015 and 2016 are Kingswood in Tallaght and Kingscourt in County Cavan.  

Education Minister Ruairi Quinn has earlier invited patron bodies to lodge patron applications for the eight new schools. 

Written by Donal Walsh

Comments