Secondary School Patronage 2020

Last Updated on November 5, 2020

As part of the 47 new schools to be established between 2019 and 2022, now is your chance to vote for your area.

The Department of Education and Skills has opened up voting for 4 new secondary schools in Ballincollig, County Cork, Booterstown, Blackrock & Dun Laoghaire, County Dublin, Dunshaughlin, County Meath and Gorey, County Wexford. Voting is open now until the 16th of November at 9 am. 

You get to have your say for your child’s potentials future school. Making a decision on the patronage of a secondary school in your area determines various factors such as whether the school is teaching in Irish or in English. All proposed schools are going to be mixed boys and girls schools. 

This is an important vote because only parents of children living within the demographic area of the proposed schools are eligible to vote. That means, there is a very limited number of votes and each vote can make a significant difference. We have answered all the important questions regarding this vote below.

Where will the new schools be?

The new secondary schools will be in
Ballincollig, County Cork
Booterstown, Blackrock & Dun Laoghaire, County Dublin
Dunshaughlin, County Meath
Gorey, County Wexford

Who can vote?

One vote is assigned for each child that is going to attend a post-primary school from 2021 – 2025. They must live within the pre-determined demographic areas to get to vote. Parents and children should decide together whose patronage to vote for.

The aim is to give a vote to the children and parents that are going to be directly affected by this patronage.

What do I need to do to vote?

To express your patronage preference fill in the survey on the Online Patronage Process System. You need to provide a set of information such as the child’s date of birth, PPS number and full address. You have one vote per child. Voting is open until the 16th of November at 9 am.

How can I find out if I am in the area eligible for voting?

To find out if you are in the assigned demographic area you can fill in your Eircode on the first page of the survey to express your preference.

What is a school patronage and why does it matter?

The school patron is the management of the school, it runs the school and decides on the individual characteristics of the school.
A school patron decides whether a school is, for example denominational, which means it is run by one religious body or an Irish vs an English-speaking school.

What school patrons are available for Ballincollig, County Cork?

An Foras Pátrúnachta and Le Chéile Schools Trust.
An Foras Pátrúnachta is proposing an Irish-speaking multi-denominational school.
Le Chéile Schools Trust is proposing an English-speaking Catholic school.
Find more info about the new Ballincollig secondary schools here.

What school patrons are available for Booterstown, Blackrock & Dun Laoghaire, County Dublin?

An Foras Pátrúnachta and Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board (DDLETB) and Educate Together.
An Foras Pátrúnachta is proposing an Irish-speaking multi-denominational school.
DDLETB is proposing an English-speaking multi-denominational school.
Educate Together is proposing an English-speaking multi-denominational school.
Find more info about the new Booterstown, Blackrock & Dun Laoghaire secondary schools here.

What school patrons are available for Dunshaughlin, County Meath?

An Foras Pátrúnachta and Catholic Education An Irish Schools Trust (Ceist) and Louth and Meath Education and Training Board (LMETB).
An Foras Pátrúnachta is proposing an Irish-speaking multi-denominational school.
Ceist is proposing an English-speaking Catholic school.
LMETB is proposing an English-speaking multi-denominational school.
Find more info about the new Dunshaughlin secondary schools here.

What school patrons are available for Gorey, County Wexford?

Catholic Education An Irish Schools Trust (Ceist) and Educate Together and Waterford and Wexford Education and Training Board (WWETB).
Ceist is proposing an English-speaking Catholic school.
Educate Together is proposing an English-speaking multi-denominational school.
WWETB is proposing an English-speaking multi-denominational school.
Find more info about the new Gorey secondary schools here.

How many secondary schools are going to be established?

In this phase of voting there will be 4 new secondary schools established.

How can I sign my child up to the new school?

School sign-ups are regulated by individual schools. Voting for patronage does not sign your child up for the school.

I voted but I would like to do more. What else can I do?

Share the link with parents in your local community and check your preferred patrons social media to like & share their campaign.

My child will be attending one of the new secondary schools to be established but we do not live in the demographic voting area. What can I do?

Unfortunately, in this case you are not eligible to vote. However, you can share the link with parents who are in the local community and share your preferred schools campaign social media.