Groups apply for school patronages

THE Department of Education has received applications from eight groups to be patrons of 13 new primary schools due to open in the next two years.

Education Minister Ruairi Quinn announced in June that the new schools will open in major population growth areas in Dublin, Cork, Galway and Kildare.

His department invited interested bodies to apply for the patronages up to early last month, with a newly formed, independent New Schools Establishment Group to recommend a patron in each case to the minister.