Limerick Senator Kieran O’Donnell has been advised by Education Minister Richard Bruton that the decision on the patronage for the two new Limerick secondary schools at Mungret and Castletroy is imminent.
“Many parents of primary children living in the Dooradoyle/Raheen/Mungret and Castletroy areas have been in touch with me about the delay with the announcement of the patronage for both of these two schools,” he told the Limerick Post.
“I have held meetings with Minister Bruton and the Department of Education looking to speed up this process. The Minister now advises me that a decision will be taken and announced very shortly. A delay has arisen because these two schools are part of a bundle of nine new secondary schools being assessed for patronage at the same time.
“Minister Bruton informs me that the New Schools Establishment Group (NSEG), an external independent advisory group which overseas the patronage process is meeting next week. Shortly thereafter, this group will issue a report with recommendations to him on the patronage which he will then consider and make a final decision. The Minister will then announce the patron for each school.
“I have impressed upon the Minister that parental patron preference has to be central to the decision making process.
“Furthermore, I have asked the Minister to confirm the timeframe for the planning and building of each of these two new secondary schools. Mungret is due to open in September 2017, with Castletroy to follow in September 2018. Planning has yet to be applied for the already selected Mungret site with site selection yet to happen for Castletroy.
“It is extremely anxious and frustrating for parents to be attending open nights for both of these schools with various potential patrons and not knowing who will be the ultimate patrons.
“Parents and pupils need certainty on a numbers of factors, including school patrons, site locations and when the construction of permanent school buildings will get underway. We cannot have pupils and teachers in prefabs for any lenght of time.
“I will continue to pursue this matter with the Minister for Education and his Department to ensure that these two secondary schools are functioning effectively as quickly as possible.
