Press Releases05 May 04

New National School for the Church of Ireland

NEW NATIONAL SCHOOL FOR THE CHURCH OF IRELAND

A new Church of Ireland National School is to open in Dunboyne in the Diocese of Meath, the first new national school to be founded by the Church in the modern state.

Schools have been built afresh and re-opened after closure but Dunboyne NS marks the inception of primary education within the parish of Dunboyne Union. There is no national school for Dunboyne, or neighbouring Duleek or Dunshaughlin recorded in the 1927 survey.

The new school will serve an area of rapid housing growth and will have no significant effect on other schools as the area has a large number of new families.

The school will open in temporary premises in September and the recruitment of teaching staff is in hand. Parents have been enthusiastically supporting this new step for their community as pupils would face long distances travelling to other schools on a very busy national routeway.

Church of Ireland Education Officer, Canon John McCullagh, said: ?It is likely that some 20 pupils will commence in junior infants (P1) while some will also transfer into senior infants or first class. Construction of two prefab classrooms is expected to commence on a site adjacent to the proposed parish centre and the parish church thus identifying the link between parish and school.

?The school will of course be welcoming to pupils of other traditions as is the practice in all schools under Church patronage while retaining a very clear Christian ethos of concern and respect for all.?

The parish and parents will face a significant financial burden in the first years of the school. Teachers? salaries are paid by the State but other grants are paid on a partial basis and the shortfall will need to be made up locally. Support from the parish, diocesan board of education and the Church Education Society has already given the planning committee and incoming board of management considerable encouragement in this project.

For further information contact Rev Canon John McCullagh on (01) 497 8422