Fine Gael Senator Deirdre Clune today welcomed the application made by Cork VEC and An Foras Pátrúnachta to the Department of Education to become patrons of the new Irish secondary school in Carrigaline.
This follows on from Minister Ruairi Quinn’s announcement in June that schools could apply for patronage. Minister Quinn said: “With the significant number of new schools, there will be an opportunity for patrons to seek to apply for patronage of these schools”. The announcement further emphasises the Minister’s commitment to ensure speedy implementation of the commitments in the Programme for Government on moving towards a more pluralist system of patronage at second level.
Senator Clune “This is very welcome news and shows the commitment and hard work of the people of Carrigaline, this is another step forward to the establishment of this new school. Carrigaline is an area which has seen major growth over the last number of years and the facilitation of this new school will be a great asset to the local community and surrounding area”.
“Carrigaline has been recognised by the Department as an area where parents have expressed a strong demand for Irish-medium education at second level, due to an increase in the number of children attending local Gaelscoileanna in recent years and an increasing population forecasted in the years to come” said Senator Clune.
According to the Department of Education; a very substantial site of 21 acres on the Ballinrea Road has been purchased by the Department to facilitate not only the construction of new schools but also to provide sporting and recreational facilities for students. Following a recent meeting of the Cork County Council, the lands have now been zoned for educational use. The Department has announced that the school will be designed and constructed over the coming years and will be open to receive students by September 2014.
The decision on the patronage of the new school will lie with the New Schools Establishment Group who will then submit a report with recommendations for consideration of the Minister shortly.