Cork schools told to consult on enrolment proposals

The trustees of Cork’s northside primary schools have been urged to consult properly before making any new proposals to deal with enrolment issues in the area.

There was a cautious welcome for Monday night’s decision of the Edmund Rice Schools Trust (ERST) not to proceed for now with the planned amalgamation of Scoil Mhuire Fatima at the North Monastery with nearby St Vincent’s primary at the convent school site. The plan, which was proposed by ERST and St Vincent’s trustees, the Religious Sisters of Charity, was overwhelmingly opposed by parents of pupils at both schools.

But ERST said on Monday it remains concerned with falling enrolments at the North Mon primary school — down from 250 to 170 since 2007 — and plans to agree with other local schools’ trustees how discussions should take place to deal with primary enrolment issues in the area. It told the Irish Examiner it wants any discussions to be as inclusive as possible, but it has already notified concerns about dropping numbers to the Department of Education.