ONE OF the three State-run community primary schools – due to open in September – will not now proceed after just 13 children applied for places.
Outgoing minister for education Mary Hanafin confirmed last night that the planned opening in September of a new school in the Phoenix Park, Dublin 15, is to be postponed.
The department says this follows “a review of overall enrolment figures for the area which indicate that the new school will not now be required for the next school year”.
The school, Scoil Oisín Community National School, is one of three due to come under the patronage of County Dublin Vocational Education Committee (VEC) as part of the new pilot patronage model.
It is intended the school will eventually serve the community around the new housing development on the site of the old Phoenix Park racecourse.
But the department says a “slower pace of development on that site has resulted in a reduction of projected demand” for school places in the area this year.
It is understood parents of children who had sought places in Scoil Oisín in September have been offered alternative places in nearby schools. The school’s principal will be assigned new duties, probably working on the development of the new primary model.
Ms Hanafin confirmed that the two other schools under the new pilot patronage model will both be accepting pupils this September.
The two schools in questions are Scoil Choilm, Porterstown, Dublin 15, which opened last year under temporary arrangements, and a new school, Scoil Ghráinne, Phibblestown, Dublin 15. As of the end of April, 57 new pupils had been enrolled at Scoil Choilm for next year, while 86 applied for places at Scoil Ghráinne.
Last night, Ms Hanafin said: “The decision to postpone the opening of Scoil Oisín has been taken in light of the overall numbers presenting for this September which do not justify an additional school at this stage, given wider availability of school places and choice in the area.
“There is a strong demand for places in both Scoil Choilm and Scoil Ghráinne and these two schools will provide a very positive and instructive starting point for the new pilot patronage model.”
Michael Moriarty of the Irish Vocational Education Association said the decision to defer the opening of the school was a sensible one in the circumstances.