Doubts over primary schools plans

HUGE question marks still hang over government plans to establish the first primary schools under the patronage of a Vocational Education Committee next year.

In a change to plans announced last February that Co Dublin VEC would operate a primary school at Diswellstown in north Dublin, Education Minister Mary Hanafin said yesterday that it would instead open a school at Phibblestown in Dublin 15 and another in Phoenix Park.

However, no site has yet been acquired for either school and the minister must amend 1930s legislation governing VECs to allow them act as patrons of primary schools. In the meantime, she will have to act as patron to the schools if the legal changes have not been passed by the Oireachtas before next September.