The Minister for Education Norma Foley TD has invited parents to express their preference in relation to the patronage of four post-primary schools to be established in 2021.

Minister Foley said: “This is an unusual and challenging time for school patrons and school communities. It is important that the patronage process for the post-primary schools which are to open in 2021 is conducted in as normal a fashion as possible, with parents given the option to express their preference on the choice of patron. “

Parents are invited to express their patronage preferences using the Department’s Online Patronage Process System (OPPS) website. This system has been developed to provide objective information to parents and guardians in the relevant school planning areas which will allow them to make an informed choice in expressing a preference for their preferred model of patronage, and language medium, for their child’s education.

The Online Patronage Process System can be accessed at: https://patronage.education.gov.ie/.

It will be live until 9am on 16 November.

The four post-primary schools to be established in 2021 will serve the following school planning areas:                  

• Ballincollig
• Booterstown_Blackrock  & Dún Laoghaire
• Dunshaughlin
• Gorey

Today’s invitation follows on from the announcement since 2018 of the establishment of 47 new schools to cater for demographic growth over the four-year period from 2019 to 2022.

These planned new schools were decided following on from a nationwide, forward-planning exercise carried out by the Department into the future need for primary and post-primary schools across the country.

The patronage process will run until 9am on 16 November 2020.

The patronage process for the schools to be established in 2022 will be run next year.

Parents whose children will be commencing first year in post-primary school from 2021-2025 and who are living in the relevant school planning areas will be eligible to make their preferences known in the online survey.

Inviting interested parents/guardians to make their preference known, Minister Foley said:

“This is a great opportunity for parents to make your views known and help to shape the education of the future. I encourage all parents of eligible children in the relevant school planning areas to take a look at the patronage options and engage with the survey.

“Your preferences, together with the extent of diversity currently available in these areas, will be key to decisions in relation to the outcome of this process.”

The patronage process for new schools is overseen by the independent New Schools Establishment Group (NSEG). This Group was set up in 2011 to advise the Minister on the patronage of new schools.

What new schools are being established in 2021?

• Ballincollig
• Booterstown_Blackrock & Dún Laoghaire
• Dunshaughlin
• Gorey

Who are the Applicant Patrons for each school?

Ballincollig

• An Foras Pátrúnachta
• Le Chéile Schools Trust

Booterstown_Blackrock & Dún Laoghaire (regional solution)

• An Foras Pátrúnachta
• Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board
• Educate Together

Dunshaughlin

• An Foras Pátrúnachta
• Ceist CLG
• Louth and Meath Education and Training Board

Gorey

• Ceist CLG
• Educate  Together
• Waterford and Wexford Education and Training Board

What is a Regional Solution?

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.

What is the New Schools Establishment Group?

The patronage process for new schools is overseen by the 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:

• Mr. Joe Hamill, Retired Secretary General of the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs;
• Professor Gerry Mac Ruairc,  Head, School of Education, National University of Ireland Galway;
• Professor Sarah Moore, Professor of Teaching and Learning, University of Limerick.

What Happens Next?

The 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 be open until 9am on 16^th November 2020.

When the survey closes, the Department will compile a report for the consideration of the NSEG and the NSEG will submit a report with recommendations for consideration by the Minister.