The announcement by Minister for Education and Skills, Mr Ruairí Quinn, TD, that the patronage of the new post-primary school in Greystones, County Wicklow, has been awarded to the Church of Ireland has been warmly welcomed by the Archbishop of Dublin and Bishop of Glendalough, The Most Revd Dr Michael Jackson.
Dr Jackson described the decision by the Minister for Education and Skills, as ‘very positive’ and said it ‘demonstrated a recognition that faith based schools still have a role to play in Irish education. The construction of the new school now presented an exciting opportunity for the community of Greystones, Delgany and the wider North Wicklow area.’
‘The prospect of a new secondary school in the Greystones area is something which I greatly welcome. There is clear need for urgent provision of such facilities for the children of the area. I am well aware of the significant work that members of the community have put into this bid and I both congratulate them and thank them for all their hard work on it. I look forward to working with the new Board of Management and with the Department of Education and Skills as the future of the school is planned and carried through,’ Dr Jackson added.
There was an overwhelmingly positive response from parents in the Greystones and Delgany area to the Archbishop’s application for patronage of the new post-primary school, with almost 2,000 parents expressing their preference through both written and online sign-ups.
As Patron, the Archbishop will shortly move to appoint an interim Board of Management which will lead the development of the new school.
ENDS
Note for Editors:
In summer 2011, the Department of Education announced that it was seeking patrons to run a new secondary school that would open in Greystones in 2014. It will be one of 14 new secondary schools to be built in the commuter belt region.
For further information contact:
Mrs Janet Maxwell, Head of Communications, Church of Ireland, 01 4125621 or 087 9484412. email: janet.maxwell@rcbdub.org
OR
Diocesan Communications Officer: Lynn Glanville, dco@dublin.anglican.org, 087-2356472.