Campaign group calls for new multi-denominational school amid scramble for places
According to Educate D8, half of the children living in the Dublin 8 area will not have a local secondary school place next year.
Despite the fact there are five existing secondary schools, a 600-student gap remains in Dublin 8 and the campaign group believes this fits the Department of Education’s criteria for a new school.
According to the most recent census data from last year, Dublin 8 has a non-Catholic population of 62pc, double the national average. However, this is not reflected in the distribution of newly created multi-denominational schools.
Louise Fitzpatrick, Educate D8 spokesperson, told the Irish Independent it has begun a letter-writing campaign to Education Minister Norma Foley to highlight the lack of secondary school places, which forces primary school children to leave the area.
“This time of year, it’s an especially big issue because it’s when parents start applying for secondary schools,” she said.
“It’s when it’s at the top of everyone’s mind, because people realise the bad situation we’re in.”
According to the group, parents are sometimes obliged to apply to dozens of schools across Dublin in the hope of finding a space.
The closest multi-denominational secondary school in their catchment area is Sandymount Educate, created to meet the needs of Dublin 8 students but which often requires a 90-minute trip both ways.
“Everybody must compromise where they send their kids to school,” Ms Fitzpatrick said.
“So, if they send them to a local school, they’re usually compromising on religion, or they could be compromising on subject choice, extracurricular activities.
“What we don’t understand is why, in the area where we have the most multi-denominational population, as in the most international, the least Catholic, is that not possible?
“How can it be the case for kids in, you know, Blackrock and in Sandyford, in all of these affluent places where actually the population is much more homogenous?” she added.
The campaign group also believes that comments from the Minister of Education so far shows the situation they are in is not being “fully understood”.
“We’ve been focussing on trying to find potential sites for a new school, which is really difficult to do in a built-up urban area,” Ms Fitzpatrick said.
“A lot of families in our area don’t realise this is an issue until it’s too late for them.”
The Minister for Education has been contacted for comment.
