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22nd January 2013 • Volume 20, Issue 02 • Leader House, North Street, Swords, Co. Dublin. • Tel: 8•400•200 • info@northcountyleader.ie
Local Parents Urged To Have Say In Schools’ Patronage The North County towns of Malahide, Portmarnock, Rush and Skerries, are part of 38 towns and suburbs nationwide, where parents will be asked to decide whether they want to hand over a Catholic primary school to another patron. Parents will start voting within weeks on the issue.
Gardaí Apprehend Lusk Raiders Three men have been arrested following an armed robbery in Lusk at the weekend. The men, armed with what appeared to be a firearm and wearing balaclavas, threatened staff at Costcutters shop and Post Office at around 10.05pm on Saturday last, before taking a large quantity of money. The same shop was the scene of a violent robbery, where two men were shot dead by an armed garda more than seven years ago. The raiders threatened staff before fleeing with close to €10,000 in cash. Later, three men aged in their mid 20s to late 40s, were apprehended by detectives from Balbriggan garda station when they intercepted a car. Two firearms were recovered, along with all of the money. The car was also seized. Thankfully, no customers or staff were injured during the raid and investigations are continuing. The suspects have been detained at Swords, Raheny and Clontarf garda stations. Residents in the North County towns and villages are likely to view this latest robbery as an attempt to take advantage of the closure of Garda stations in the area. Many locals believe that the closure of Rush Garda Station, along with the reduced hours at Malahide Garda Station has handed a golden opportunity to robbers to exploit reduced garda resources in the area. Local councillor, Ken Farrell (Lab) told the County Leader, “Firstly, I would like to congratulate the gardai on apprehending the robbers. However, I believe that instead of closing down rural garda stations, the Minister should be recognising the benefits and need to have these stations manned, if only from a deterrent point of view,” he said.
By Patrick Finnegan The Department of Education will seek the views of parents on the demand for a change in patronage, and their preference for who should run the schools. Parents of all children up to 12 years are being asked if they want change, and if so, who they would like to see operating their local primary schools. It is part of the historic move to reduce the dominance of the Church in primary education. It follows a similar exercise late last year, when parents in five areas voted in favour of greater choice. Local councillor, Tom Kelleher (Lab), who is also principal of Rolestown National School, which is under the patronage of the Catholic Church, welcomed the survey. Speaking to the County Leader, he said, “Parents are choosing where available, schools with an ethos and patronage reflecting their own beliefs. Many children who attend denominational schools come from families where, often, there is no religious ethos. The survey is an attempt to gauge the level of support for a choice of school patronage amongst parents.” He continued, “I think it’s a very practical move by the Minister. He’s trying to put some shape on what is becoming an Cllr. Tom Kelleher emerging fact in modern day Irish society and I welcome
Claire O'Connor, principal of St Oliver Plunkett School
this survey,” he concluded. Meanwhile, the principal of St Oliver Plunkett National School in Malahide, Claire O’Connor told the County Leader, “I want everyone to engage with the survey. This is the only way that the wishes of the majority will be reflected accurately. It would be a pity if the future of our school was decided by a minority of parents. If you’re happy with the status quo, then make sure to get on line and let them know. We are a very inclusive school and have children of many denominations attending. We’ve never turned away a child on the grounds of religious beliefs,” she said.
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If parents indicate they would like a wider choice of patron, then the Department of Education and Skills will ask existing patrons to come up with a plan to transfer some schools to other patron bodies. The surveys are an expansion of pilot surveys on primary school patronage which were conducted late last year in five towns. As a result, the Catholic Church - which controls over 90 per cent of the country’s 3,000 primary schools - has been asked to hand over one in each of the five areas to the multi-denominational body, Educate Together, which had most support as an alternative patron. The bodies that have indicated a desire to take over a school in the areas are Vocational Education Committees (VECs), the Irish language patron body, An Foras Patrunachta, Educate Together, and the National Learning Network. Education Minister, Ruairi Quinn said it was “an historic opportunity” for parents to have a real say in the type of school their children attend. The surveys are on www.education.ie, and will continue until 8th February. Paper-based versions of the survey are also available on request