Educate Together is to meet local parents in Tallaght to discuss their plans for a new primary school. The meeting, organised by the Tallaght Citywest Educate Together Association, is open to the public. It takes place at 8pm Thursday September 15 in Rua Red, South Dublin Arts Centre, Tallaght.
Local parents have been calling for the opening of an Educate Together school in Tallaght since 2008. With pressure on existing school places and the Department of Education planning to open 3 schools in Dublin 24, the group has high hopes that Educate Together will get patronage of one or more of the schools.
Group Chairperson, Sinead Harrington is inviting all local parents to attend. ‘Educate Together have schools across Dublin, but none in Tallaght – Dublin’s biggest suburb. They have a great reputation and demand for places are very high. There are parents in Tallaght who travel long distances to bring their children to an Educate Together school. It would be fantastic for Tallaght if one of the new schools proposed could be under their patronage. Parents should come to the meeting and see for themselves how an Educate Together school would be such a great addition to our community – all are welcome’.
Saggart Abbey resident Leona McMahon is hopeful the Educate Together school gets the go ahead. “Our daughter Chéile has just started in Blessington Educate Together National School. My husband Mick had to give up his job so he could be free to bring her to school and back. An Educate Together school nearby would be great and would make our lives a lot easier!’
Educate Together has 60 schools nationwide and hopes to open many more in the coming years. It works with local communities to establish the viability of a new school and in Tallaght they already have 115 children pre-enroled. Local political representatives from all parties have also been supportive of the campaign, most especially Councillor Marie Corr, former Mayor, who will attend the meeting on Thursday.
Sinead Harrington, again "Citywest, West Tallaght and Firhouse/ Oldbawn will all have new schools built in 2012-13. The Department of Education and Skills’ new policy for diversity of school type means that Educate Together has a great chance of patronage. It is what many local parents have been calling for – for years. We hope the public information meeting will have a big turnout and parents can see for themselves what Educate Together offers their children’.
For further information or to pre-enrol go to www.dublin24etns.ie
