Proposed New Educate Together National School in Limerick City - 5th January2003

Educate Together are pleased to announce the application of Limerick City East Educate Together for a new school due to start in September 2003.

There has been a highly successful Educate Together school in Limerick since 1989. This school (The Limerick School Project) over many years has been unable to satisfy the demand for places from parents in the city. Last year the school moved into completely refurbished premises in O’Connell Avenue. The proposal originally was to locate the school near an area of social disadvantage in the south east of the city, with good transport links to other areas. Unfortunately, the group has been unable to locate suitable premises in that area. As a result the group has put forward an alternative temporary site in the city centre.

The fact remains that it is only by creating second Educate Together National School in the city, that the lawful ethical preference of an increasing number of parents in Limerick be enabled.

In 2002 Educate Together opened seven new schools, more than twice the number of new schools opened by all other sectors of education. The progress of the Educate Together sector is a strong indication of the growing demand from the general public for schools that respect and cherish the identity of children from all religious, social and cultural backgrounds. Educate Together Schools run according to the principle that

"all children having equal rights of access to the school, and children of all social, cultural and religious backgrounds are equally respected"

Rush/Lusk, South Kildare, Wicklow Town, Ballina, Ongar/Clonee have also had very successful pre-enrolment meetings and are still taking names.

The formation of new schools is based solely on the voluntary effort of parents. Members come from all walks of life. The voluntary groups have been told that they will have to source temporary accommodation for up to 10 years before the state will be in a position to supply permanent school buildings. The schools get no funding until the school opens.