09 June, 2006 - Recognition of three New Primary Schools from September 2006

Responding to wide diversity of needs - Minister Hanafin

The Minister for Education and Science, Mary Hanafin today announced the recognition of three new primary schools - two in Blessington, Co Wicklow and one in Glanmire, Co Cork. 

Following consideration of the report and recommendations of the New Schools Advisory Committee on the recognition of new primary schools, the Minister said she was pleased to give approval for the establishment of the three new primary schools, from September 2006, in accordance with the provisions of Section 10 of the Education Act, 1998 and the published criteria for recognition of new schools.

'In recent years we are responding to the wide diversity of needs within the education system' Minister Hanafin said today. 'New providers have come forward such as Educate Together and Gaelscoileanna across the country. It is important when ensuring school provision, that there is accommodation of difference, diversity and tolerance across the system, while all the time maintaining the high quality of teaching and learning in our schools' said Minister Hanafin

The recognition of the two new schools in Blessington raises issues about the sustainability of both the new schools and the existing schools original planned growth in the context of the overall population projections for the Blessington area.

This means that additional accommodation being planned for the existing schools needs to be examined with a view to configuring it in such a way that permits economic and efficient usage options in terms of ultimately meeting the permanent accommodation needs of one or other of the new schools (if they prove viability and gain permanent recognition) and also takes account of providing specialist accommodation for children with special needs and members of the travelling community in the region.

The three new schools announced today brings the total number of new schools being established from this September to nine, following an earlier announcement by Minister Hanafin. 
Details of the three new schools are as follows:

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