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Four new high schools will open next year, the Department of Education has confirmed.
They will be built in Gorey, Co Wexford, Dunshaughlin, Co Meath, Ballincollig, Co Cork and Blackrock, Co Dublin.
Education Minister Norma Foley is now inviting applications for the sponsorship of the four new post-primary schools.
In Dunshaughlin, the department is exploring the possibility of locating the new school on land that the minister is currently acquiring.
In Blackrock, the department has purchased approximately three acres of land for the school on Newtownpark Avenue, known as “Abilene’s property.”
This site has been targeted at a new 1,000-student post-primary school, including four classrooms specifically for students with special educational needs.
The site identification process for the new planned schools in Ballincollig and Gorey is ongoing.
The first phase of the four new second-level schools is expected to be planned for 500 to 600 places each, and it is planned to expand to 1,000 places in future phases.
Minister Foley said the Covid-19 pandemic was “an unusual and challenging time” for school patrons and school communities.
She said: “It is important that the sponsorship process for the post-primary schools that will open in 2021 be carried out in the most normal way possible.
“Sponsors have the opportunity to apply to run the new schools, and parents have the opportunity to express their preferences about choosing a sponsor.”
The deadline is October 21.
Ms. Foley added: “The preferences of the parents for each client, of the parents / guardians of the children residing in the school planning areas in question, along with the scope of the diversity of offerings currently available in these areas will be key to decisions regarding the outcome of this process. “
The opening of three new schools in Dublin has been postponed from 2021 to 2022.
They will be located in the Dublin 2/4 area, as well as Donaghmede / Howth and Sallynoggin / Cherrywood.
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