Two new secondary schools for Carrigaline

The growing town of Carrigaline is to have two additional second-level schools from 2016.

Education Minister Ruairi Quinn had invited patrons earlier this year to apply for the running of just one new second-level school in the town, 12km from Cork City. But he has decided the Edmund Rice Schools Trust (ERST), which owns former Christian Brothers schools, and multi-denominational schools body, Educate Together, should each run new schools which could eventually cater for 600 students each.

Carrigaline already has an existing community school, undergoing a major extension, and an all-Irish multi-denominational school will open next September under the patronage of Cork Education and Training Board.

A Department of Education Assessment found that awarding patronage to one of the bodies would have resulted in significant, unmet demand for one or other type of school, while future pressure for second-level places from other suburbs of Cork was also a factor.

Mr Quinn also announced the patrons for second-level schools in seven other areas, including joint patronage by Cork ETB and the Catholic bishop of Cloyne for a school in the Midleton/Carrigtwohill area of east Cork. Three schools will be under Educate Together’s patronage, two will be run by the local ETB, and one jointly by these two bodies.

The ERST was supported in its application by Christian Brothers College in the city. The trust said the Edmund Rice College in Carrigaline will be modelled on the existing school.

“The school will be a co-educational, non fee-paying, inclusive Catholic school which will welcome students of all faiths and none. [It] will place a strong emphasis on academic achievement, whilst catering for the full range of abilities,” a statement said.