11 June 2015
By Bryan T. Smyth
bryan@TheCork.ie
The Cork Education and Training Board (previously known as the VEC) will be the patrons of a new primary school in Carrigtwohill, Co Cork.
The Minister for Education and Skills, Jan O’Sullivan T.D. made the announcement today.
Opening in September it will be “multi-denominational Community National School”, and so will differ from the traditional Catholic patronage model of most primary level schools in Ireland.
Above: Map of Carrigtwohill, Co Cork.
The population expended during the celtic tiger period, with new housing estates being built.
The village (as many locals refer to it) is on the Cork City/Kent Train Station to Midleton railway line.
Cork ETB Chief Executive, Ted Owens, welcomed the Minister’s confirmation and said his organisation would be “responsive and answerable” to the local community.
Education Minister Jan O’Sullivan said: “The decisions taken by me on patronage of these new schools place a particular emphasis on providing for demonstrated parental demand for plurality and diversity of patronage. Both schools will optimise parental choice and strengthen diversity of provision in the areas in which they are to be established.”
The Minister expressed her thanks to the members of the New Schools Establishment Group (an independent advisory group which advises the Minister on the patronage of new schools, following its consideration of a report prepared by Department Officials) for their valuable input. She said: “The system used to establish new schools and appoint school patrons was introduced to ensure an objective and transparent process and the role of the New Schools Establishment Group is critical to achieving these aims.”
Last February Minister O’Sullivan announced that a total of four new primary schools will open in September 2015 to meet demographic needs.
Department Officials will shortly contact each of the patron bodies regarding the establishment of these new schools.
