Parents in twelve areas around the country can now #VoteEducateTogether in a new Online Patronage Process Survey hosted by the Department of Education and Skills. Interested parents and carers of children aged 0-5 should visit https://patronage.education.gov.ie/ before Tuesday 15 January 2019. The data gathered will be used to decide the patronage of twelve primary schools to serve the following areas:
In Cork:
- Cork City / Glasheen / Pouladuff areas of Cork will receive a brand new 8 classroom school. The catchment area published by the Department of Education and Skills also includes Bishopstown and Togher.
In Kildare:
- Leixlip will receive a brand new 8 classroom school to serve the town. The catchment area published by the Department of Education and Skills also includes St Wolstans to the south and Confrey to the north.
- In Maynooth 8 classroom school will open to serve the town and its hinterlands.
In South Dublin:
- The Booterstown/Blackrock school will have 8 classrooms to serve a catchment area that includes part of Miltown in addition to Booterstown and Blackrock.
- The Dublin 6, 6W and Clonskeagh school will be a 16-classroom and with a catchment area that covers parts of Greenhills, Templeogue and extends to Donnybrook.
- In addition to Goatstown, Stillorgan and Dun Laoghaire, the school will serve families from Windy Arbour and some of Sandyford and will contain 16 classrooms.
In North Dublin:
- The Killester/Raheny/Clontarf school will have 8 classrooms will also also serve parts of Kilbarrack, Artane and Edenmore.
- The Donaghmede, Howth and Dublin 13 school will be a 16-classroom and with a catchment area that covers parts of Baldoyle and Sutton and extends to Howth.
- Two 8-classroom schools will open in Swords – North and South. The catchment areas for these schools covers all of Swords.
In Meath:
- In Dunshaughlin, the catchment area published by the Department of Education and Skills also includes Proudstown to the north and Creemore in the south.
In Wicklow:
- Newtownmountkennedy and Kilcoole will see the opening of an 8 classroom school to cover an area extending from the coast to Ballynahinch.
With five weeks to go before the deadline of Tuesday 15 January, campaigners are determined to bring Educate Together national schools to their communities. Says Oisin O’Connor of the Booterstown and Blackrock Educate Together National School campaign group:
‘We will be pounding the pavements over the next few weeks signing up supporters and letting people know why an Educate Together national school is the best choice for Booterstown and Blackrock. It’s important to my family and me that Educate Together are awarded this school.’
The twelve campaigns have garnered unprecedented support so far and supporters are anticipating a short but intense campaign. Says Laura Murphy of Dunshaughlin:
‘Dunshaughlin is sorely in need of an Educate Together national school – our nearest Educate Togethers would be Navan or Trim which are both quite a commute. Dunshaughlin is a thriving town and deserves a primary school that will cater to all of its population regardless of religion, cultural or social background.’
Says Orla Burke of the Cork South City Educate Together NS campaign:
‘I’ve lived in Cork City Centre since my student days. I’d like to see a new school that reflects the city I see around me. I’d like to see my daughter and her little friends included and treated equally at school; that’s why I am convinced that the Educate Together model is the best fit for a new school in Cork South City.’
Says Gerry McKevitt, Regional Development Officer at Educate Together who is helping co-ordinate the Dublin campaigns:
“Support for Educate Together in Dublin is extremely strong. Educate Together is a perfect fit for such a culturally, socially and religiously diverse area. Existing Educate Together schools in Dublin are in high demand so we’re keeping our fingers crossed that we will be opening more schools to serve the city and greater Dublin area in 2019!’
Parents find out more at www.educatetogether.ie and vote for Educate Together at the Department of Education and Skills website: https://patronage.education.gov.ie/.
Laura Murphy of the Dunshaughlin #VoteEducateTogether Dunshaughlin campaign with Jessie and Ramona
