Subscriber OnlyLetters

Access to truly inclusive education

Some children face long commutes

Letters to the Editor. Illustration: Paul Scott
The Irish Times - Letters to the Editor.

Sir, – In relation to “Synge Street CBS is to admit girls for first time in 160 years and become an all-Irish Gaelcholáiste” (News, September 11th), we welcome your focus on education in Dublin 8.

However, as a community group dedicated to securing a new multidenominational secondary school for Dublin 8, we feel that it is necessary to note two suggestions made in the article.

Dublin 8 has not been “depopulated”. In fact, some parts of Dublin 8 have had very high population growth compared to other parts of the city.

There have been no “community secondary schools” (as mentioned in the article) established in Dublin 8.

READ MORE

As a result, children who wish to attend a multidenominational school must leave the local area, perhaps to attend Sandymount Educate Together secondary school, which, surprisingly, was established to serve Dublin 8, and it is a 90-minute commute each way for some children. In fact, secondary school children in Dublin 8 have some of the longest commutes in the country.

Educate D8 welcomes the news of CBS Synge Street becoming a co-ed Gaelcholáiste, as it will offer more choice for students living in Dublin 8.

We would also like to reiterate our urgent call for a new inclusive multidenominational secondary school for all children in the Dublin 8 area, regardless of religion, gender, language ability or additional education needs. In fact, we believe all children in Ireland deserve access to truly inclusive education in their local community. – Yours, etc,

MARIA GOLPE VARELA,

on behalf of Parents from the EducateD8 Campaign,

Dublin 8.