5 May 2017
By Bryan Smyth
bryan@TheCork.ie
An Foras Pátrúnachta awarded patronage of new primary school
The largest patron of Irish language schools in the country, An Foras Pátrúnachta, has welcomed the announcement by the Minister for Education and Skills, Richard Bruton, that it has been awarded patronage for a new multi-denominational Irish speaking primary school in Ballincollig, Co. Cork, opening in September 2017.
Today’s announcement follows a successful campaign driven by parents in Cork to establish a multi-denominational Irish speaking primary school in their area as there was no option of multi-denominational Gaelscoil education available for their children.
An Foras Pátrúnachta applied in early January 2017 to the Department of Education and Skills for the school to be designated as a multi-denominational Irish-medium school.
Caoimhín Ó hEaghra, General Secretary of An Foras Pátrúnachta said: “We welcome today’s announcement by the Minister for Education and Skills, Richard Bruton which reflects the growing demand for Irish-medium education in Ireland and will provide a diversity of choice for parents in Ballincollig. We meet families around the country every day who are telling us that they want to provide their children with the benefits that Gaelscoileanna provide.
“An Foras Pátrúnachta’s aim is to provide an excellent education through the Irish language to every child in Ireland who wants it, regardless of faith or geographical location.
“We thank the Minister and the Department of Education and Skills for listening to parents in Ballincollig, and look forward to working with them into the future. We greatly look forward to working with the new school to deliver excellent Irish-medium education in the community.”
An Foras Pátrúnachta is a patron of 69 schools, educating 15,000 students per annum. Schools under the patronage of An Foras Pátrúnachta are located in 22 counties around Ireland, with six located in Cork.