FORMER Education Minister Jan O’Sullivan has condemned the delay in announcing the new patrons for two new post primary schools in Mungret and Castletroy.
The Limerick Labour Party TD who initiated and steered the process of providing two new schools, is now calling on her successor Minister Richard Bruton to immediately make the decision for Limerick.
“The timescale for the selection of suitable patrons was clearly laid out and implemented until now and the various stages of the process were was due to end with a Ministerial decision in early September. Any further delay is unacceptable,” Deputy O’Sullivan said.
She says that the Department of Education is fully aware that the Mungret school is included in the list of school options for parents in deciding where they wish their child to attend from September 2017.
“I am acutely aware of the difficulties parents face every year in trying to secure a school place and when presented with the opportunity, I was pleased to advance these new schools.
“I am calling on Minister Bruton to make the decision for Limerick immediately even if that means announcing them in advance of the other seven areas throughout the country. Limerick is the only place that has a central applications system and time is running out.
“With school open nights already underway parents with children in their final year of primary are anxious to know exactly what options are available to them before completing the central applications form,” she said.
A spokesman for the Department of Education said that applications were invited for the patronage of nine new post-primary schools last April, including the schools in Mungret and Castletroy.
“Patrons submitted with their application a parental preference template in which parents were requested to declare their preference for their children to be educated through that patron’s school model and also their preference with regard to education through the medium of English or Irish.”
He said that the Department was currently assessing those applications.
“The final assessment reports will be forwarded for the consideration of the New Schools Establishment Group (NSEG), which will submit a report with recommendations to the Minister for Education. The Department expects that a decision in relation to the patronage of the new schools will be made by the Minister in the coming weeks.
In the context of the Common Applications System which operates in Limerick, the Department has been liaising with the Limerick Education Centre and understands that post-primary school opening days/nights have been scheduled for dates in September and also in October,” he concluded.
by Alan Jacques
