Minister: New Ballincollig NS set to open in September
EDUCATION Minister Richard Bruton has confirmed the new primary school in Ballincollig will open its doors to pupils in September of this year.
However, the decision as to who is to be awarded patronage of the new school has yet to be made, much to the concern of Cork North West Fianna Fail TD Aindrias Moynihan.
Deputy Moynihan raised the issue in the Dáil, asking the Minister if a decision had been made on patronage and if he would ensure the new school would be open in time for the next school year.
In his reply, Minister Bruton said the Ballincollig school was one of four being established across the country and that his department has received “numerous” applications in relation to their patronage.
He said the applications were currently undergoing a “detailed and rigorous” assessment process by his department.
“The final assessment reports will be forwarded for the consideration of the New Schools Establishment Group (NSEG), which will submit a report with recommendations to me for consideration and a final decision,” the Minister told the chamber.
He said this process would be completed and a final decision made on patronage “in the coming weeks”, with NSEG assessment reports made available on his departments website following the announcement.
“I can confirm that the new primary school in Ballincollig will open in September 2017,” he concluded.
It is understood that three bodies; An Foras Pátrúnachta (the patron body for gaelscoileanna), The Cork Education and Training Board and Educate Together have applied for patronage of the school.
While Deputy Moynihan welcomed confirmation of the school’s opening date, he was concerned that the decision on patronage had yet to be made and urged the Minister to make up his mind as soon as possible.
“As we know, parents were asked by a variety of potential patronage bodies about their preference for the medium of instruction, either through Gaeilge or English, and the type of school ethos,” said Deputy Moynihan.
He said that with less than six months to go until the school is due to open, parents were getting “increasingly anxious” about whether there will be a place for their children come September.
“This process has been ongoing for some time and it’s high time the Minister made his mind up and put parents’ minds at ease,” said Deputy Moynihan.
“Copies of the NSEG assessments and final recommendations will also be available to view at my Ballincollig constituency office,” he added.