Cork South-Central TD Simon Coveney has said parents will get to choose who runs the new school announced by the government for Carrigaline.
42 new schools have been announced by the government with a new 16 class primary school to open in Carrigaline in 2020.
The Tanaiste says it is important for the local community to secure this school given the amount of growth in Carrigaline, “This is yet another recognition of the size of Carrigaline and the need for investment in education for our community.”
One of the key things to be determined with the new school is if it should see education in Irish or English and who should have patronage.
Simon Coveney says parents have important voice in these decisions, “Parental preference has become a key factor in granting the patronage of new schools and I’m pleased to see that this will be the case here in Carrigaline too.”
“I have been asking the Department of Education about how the assessment will proceed and their officials tell me the Minister will invite interested school patrons to apply for governance of the school. This process will take into account the other schools in the area and their waiting lists to see where demand is highest.”
Simon Coveney says this is the point at which parents will be asked what they want for the area,
“A parental preference system has been in place since 2011 and we have learned from past rounds. Parents will be able to see online who wants to run the new school and there will also be background information and research material for the parents to help them make a choice. They will then do so confidentially to the Department.”