Councillor Neale Richmond (Fine Gael) has welcomed the announcement by the Minister for Education and Skills that a new secondary school for the Dublin South area will come under the patronage of An Foras Pátrúnachta.

“The Minister today announced his decisions on the patronage of 14 new post-primary schools to be established in 2013 and 2014. Of these, four will be under VEC patronage, one will be under the patronage of Le Chéile Schools Trust, two will be under the patronage of An Foras Pátrúnachta, one will be under the patronage of the Church of Ireland, one will be under the Patronage of Educate Together and one school will be under the joint patronage of a VEC and Educate Together.

“In June 2011 the Minister announced that 20 new post-primary schools were to be established up to 2017 across a number of locations to cater for increasing pupil numbers. Potential patrons were asked to provide evidence of parental demand when making an application for a new school. In addition, the criteria used in deciding on patronage included how the proposed schools under the respective patrons would provide for extending or strengthening diversity of provision in each area, having regard to the views of parents.

“For the Dublin South area, it has been decided that the new school will be a Gaelcholáiste providing instruction through the medium of Irish. The exact location of the school has yet to be determined but it is likely to be on the site of Dundrum College which is readily accessible by public transport from across Dublin South.

“There has been a lengthy campaign by local parents to bring a Gaelcholáiste to our area to compliment the existing Gaelscoileanna and to provide a greater level of choice alongside the existing schools in the area as well as the soon to be opened Rosemont school in Sandyford. This decision will be welcomed by all those involved in the campaign and I look forward to seeing work on the new school begin as soon as possible.”

The successful patrons are:

Blanchardstown West, Dublin 15 Educate Together

Drogheda, Co. Louth Joint patronage County Louth VEC and Educate Together

Mulhuddart, Dublin 15 Le Chéile Schools Trust

Greystones, Co. Wicklow Church of Ireland

Lusk, Co. Dublin County Dublin VEC

Claregalway, Co. Galway County Galway VEC

Naas, Co. Kildare County Kildare VEC

Navan, Co. Meath County Meath VEC

Cork City – South Suburbs/ Carrigaline County Cork VEC

Maynooth, Co. Kildare County Kildare VEC

Dundalk, Co. Louth County Louth VEC

Ashbourne, Co. Meath County Meath VEC

Balbriggan, Co. Dublin An Foras Pátrúnachta

Dundrum, Co. Dublin An Foras Pátrúnachta