The Loughrea Educate Together Start Up Campaign will hold an open meeting on Wednesday March 11 at 6:30pm in the Loughrea Family and Community Resource Centre to outline progress so far and to consider plans for the future.
In 2012, the Department of Education commenced the Forum on Pluralism and Patronage, looking at the divesting of school patronage in areas of relatively stable population where it was neither socially desirable nor economically feasible to build new schools.
As part of the implementation of the action plan in response to the report, surveys of parental preferences in 43 areas were undertaken, with Loughrea identified as a target area. In 2013, a further report showed that of the 43 areas surveyed in total, sufficient parental demand for a wider choice of school patron emerged in 28 of the areas to support change in the patronage of schools, with Loughrea again included, and parents expressing a preference for Educate Together as the alternative patron of choice.
Following the report, the main patron (Roman Catholic bishop or archbishop ) in each of the areas was asked to consider re-configuration options that would free up school accommodation for at least one full stream for provision by the first choice alternative patron. However, beyond this little progress has been made.
The Loughrea ET start up group has been actively looking for a public building that could house a potential school, but thus far has been unsuccessful, and is continuing to investigate the potential for divestment.
All are welcome to the open meeting. For more information, contact campaign coordinator Susan McGrady (086 - 1013622, [email protected] ).
