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Irish Independent

Campaign group hold meeting to push for non-religious secondary school in Dublin 8

A public meeting is scheduled for next Tuesday, May 27, to update residents on efforts to tackle the severe shortage of school places and to gather community feedback. 'We've been fighting for a new multi-denominational secondary school in Dublin 8 for a couple of years now,' said Louise Fitzpatrick, spokesperson for local campaign group, Educate D8. 'Nearly half the children living here have to leave the area to attend secondary school, and this has been an ongoing issue. 'Our main focus has been securing meetings with politicians – especially the Minister for Education and the Department of Education. We've had several meetings where we felt listened to, but the frustration remains,' she added. According to Louise, the Department of Education is unwilling to build new schools in the area for three main reasons. Firstly, the Department's projections suggest the youth population will decline after 2031, so they are reportedly focusing only on expanding or upgrading existing schools. Secondly, when planning new schools, the Department does not consider religious demographics. Thirdly, the Department argues there is enough school capacity within Dublin 8 and nearby areas combined. However, Educate D8 disputes this claim, saying the definition of 'surrounding area' is vague, and the actual local capacity does not meet the community's needs. 'They do not look at demographics in the area; religion is not something they consider at all,' Ms Fitzpatrick said. 'In an area like Dublin 8, where 62pc of the population is not Catholic, that seems quite unreasonable.' ADVERTISEMENT Educate D8 also points out that the Department discounts the presence of private or fee-paying schools in other areas when calculating capacity, which Louise says entrenches inequality. 'If you live in an area with lots of private schools, like Blackrock, you're more likely to have public schools built for you,' she said. 'But if you live in an area like Dublin 8, where the majority population is non-Catholic, the Department doesn't consider that when looking at provision. That's just not fair.' A further claim from the Department is that adequate secondary school capacity exists within a three-kilometre radius of most Dublin 8 students — including schools outside the immediate neighbourhood. But Ms Fitzpatrick highlighted a number of practical issues with this approach. 'Three kilometres in a busy urban setting can be an hour on a bus, or a dangerous cycling route across busy, traffic-heavy roads. It's not as easy as just saying there are schools nearby,' she said. The public meeting next week is designed to present an update on the Department's position and the campaign's response, as well as to explore future options with the community. The event will also feature local politicians and principals from nearby schools, giving them a chance to share their views and hear directly from parents and residents. Representatives from Gaelcholáiste 2468, another action group fighting for choice in secondary education who have faced similar struggles, will attend to offer insights and advice based on their experience. Ms Fitzpatrick said the campaign's focus remains largely on long-term planning. 'There are some short-term wins, like Harold's Cross opening enrolment to Dublin 8 students, and the Mercy School in Inchicore, while a new religious school is under construction to increase capacity and give students more options,' she said. 'In Dublin 8, we have five multi-denominational primary schools but no corresponding secondary school, which is the opposite of many other parts of the country.' The Department of Education has been contacted for comment.