Press release

Minister McHugh urges parents to take part in patronage process for six new post-primary schools

From: Department of Education and Youth
Published on: 9 September 2019
Last updated on: 19 September 2019

The Minister for Education and Skills, Joe McHugh TD, 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: https://patronage.education.gov.ie.

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 and BlanchardstownVillage_D15	800
Goatstown	Goatstown_Stillorgan_Dun Laoghaire Rathdown	800
Enfield	Kilcock	500
Citywest/Saggart	Tallaght and Newcastle_Rathcoole	1000
Harold’s Cross	Dublin 6_Clonskeagh and Dublin6W	1000
Wicklow	Kilcoole and 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.

ENDS

Notes to the Editor:

What new post-primary schools are being established in 2020?

Blanchardstown_West D15 and BlanchardstownVge_D15 (Regional solution)
Dublin6_Clonskeagh and Dublin_6W (Regional solution)
Goatstown_Stillorgan_DLR
Citywest/Saggart (Tallaght and Newcastle_Rathcoole school planning areas) (Regional Solution)
Enfield (Kilcock school planning area)
Kilcoole and Greystones (Regional solution)

Have sites been secured for the new schools?

Locations have already been secured for three of the six new schools, all of which are subject to planning permission:

Dublin 6, Clonskeagh and Dublin6W – Former Harold’s Cross Greyhound Stadium
Goatstown, Stillorgan, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown – Former Irish Glass Bottle recreation site, Goatstown
Tallaght and Newcastle/Rathcoole – ETB site at Fortunestown Lane

Which patron bodies have applied for patronage for each school?

Blanchardstown_West D15 and BlanchardstownVge_D15 (Regional solution)

An Foras Pátrúnachta
Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board
Educate Together
Islamic Foundation of Ireland
Scoil Sinéad Limited

Dublin6_Clonskeagh and Dublin_6W (Regional solution)

An Foras Pátrúnachta
City of Dublin Education and Training Board
Educate Together
Scoil Sinéad Limited

Goatstown_Stillorgan_DLR

An Foras Pátrúnachta
Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board
Educate Together
Scoil Sinéad Limited

Citywest/Saggart (Tallaght and Newcastle_Rathcoole school planning areas) (Regional Solution)

An Foras Pátrúnachta
Catholic Education An Irish Schools Trust (Ceist)
Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board (DDLETB)
Educate Together
Scoil Sinéad Limited

Enfield (Kilcock school planning area)

An Foras Pátrúnachta
Educate Together
Le Chéile Schools Trust
Louth and Meath Education and Training Board
Scoil Sinéad Limited

Kilcoole and Greystones (Regional Solution)

An Foras Pátrúnachta
Educate Together
Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board (KWETB)
Scoil Sinéad Limited

Kilcoole and Greystones

The new post-primary school to serve the Kilcoole and Greystones school planning area as a regional solution was initially announced to be established in 2021. Due to increased projected enrolments and capacity constraints in the area, the school will now open in September 2020.

Which of the schools are regional solutions?

Kilcoole and Greystones school planning areas
Blanchardstown_West D15 and BlanchardstownVge_D15 school planning area
Tallaght and Newcastle_Rathcoole school planning areas
Dublin6_Clonskeagh and Dublin_6W school planning areas

What is a Regional Solution?

A decision to establish a new school can be taken where projected growth in a single school planning area may not warrant provision of a new school but where combined demographic increases in the region indicates sufficient demand for a viable school. These schools, identified as being Regional Solutions, are planned to serve more than one school planning area.

How big will these schools be?

Area	School Planning Area	School Size*
Dublin 15	Blanchardstown_West_D15 and BlanchardstownVillage_D15	800
Goatstown	Goatstown_Stillorgan_Dun Laoghaire Rathdown	800
Enfield	Kilcock	500
Citywest/Saggart	Tallaght and Newcastle_Rathcoole	1000
Harold’s Cross	Dublin 6_Clonskeagh and Dublin6W	1000
Wicklow	Kilcoole and Greystones	800

based on projected need but will be responsive to demographic demand

What is the New Schools Establishment Group?

The patronage process for new schools is overseen by the New Schools Establishment Group (NSEG). This Group was set up in 2011 to advise the Minister on the patronage of new schools following its consideration of a report prepared by the department on the applications received.

The current members of the NSEG are:

Mr. Joe Hamill, Retired Secretary General of the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs
Professor Gerry Mac Ruairc, Head, School of Education, National University of Ireland Galway
Professor Sarah Moore, Professor of Teaching and Learning, University of Limerick

What Happens Next?

The Online Patronage Process System (OPPS) website will provide objective information to all parents which will allow them to make an informed choice in expressing a preference for their preferred model of patronage and language of instruction for their child’s education.

The survey will remain open until October 2019.

When the survey closes, the department will compile a report for the consideration of the New Schools Establishment Group (NSEG) and the NSEG will submit a report with recommendations for consideration by the Minister.

Who is entitled to give their views?

The Online Patronage Process System (OPPS) is open to parents or guardians of children who are due to enrol in post-primary school between 2020 and 2024 and who live in one of the school planning areas. Parents and guardians will need their child’s Eircode and PPSN in order to complete the online survey.