Press release
Minister McHugh urges parents to take part in patronage process for six new post-primary schools
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Published on
Last updated on
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
Locations have already been secured for three of the six new schools, all of which are subject to planning permission:
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)
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.
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.
| 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
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:
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.
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.