{"id":7556,"date":"2016-11-03T16:22:31","date_gmt":"2016-11-03T16:22:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.foras.ie\/\/?p=7556"},"modified":"2016-11-03T16:22:31","modified_gmt":"2016-11-03T16:22:31","slug":"031116-an-foras-ainmnithe-mar-iontaobhai-ar-mheanscoil-nua-i-bport-laoise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.foras.ie\/en\/031116-an-foras-ainmnithe-mar-iontaobhai-ar-mheanscoil-nua-i-bport-laoise\/","title":{"rendered":"03\/11\/16 Foras to be partner of new secondary school in Portlaoise03\/11\/16 An Foras ainmnithe mar iontaobha\u00ed ar mhe\u00e1nscoil nua i bPort Laoise"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

\n\tPRESS RELEASE<\/strong>\n<\/p>\n

\n\t \n<\/p>\n

\n\tThursday, 3rd<\/sup> November 2016\n<\/p>\n

\n\t \n<\/p>\n

\n\tNew multi-denominational school announced for Portlaoise<\/strong>\n<\/p>\n

\n\t \n<\/p>\n

\n\tAn Foras Pátrúnachta<\/a>, the largest patron for Irish-medium schools in Ireland, has been selected as a trustee partner of a new secondary school in Portlaoise along with Laois Offaly Education and Training Board. The joint application was approved and announced today (03.11.16) by the Minister for Education and Skills, Richard Bruton TD.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t \n<\/p>\n

\n\tThe co-educational and multi-denominational school will open in 2017 and aims to grow enrolment to cater for up to 1,000 pupils in the area. The new school will also include an Irish-medium unit. For the first time, it is planned to grow an Irish-medium unit into an independent Gaelcholáiste under the co-patronage of the two organisations.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t \n<\/p>\n

\n\tSpeaking today, Caoimhín O’hEaghra, General Secretary of An Foras Pátrúnachta said: "We are delighted to have been approved as a trustee partner for this new secondary school in Portlaoise. We look forward to working with Laois Offaly Education and Training Board who have a long history of excellent education provision in this region.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t \n<\/p>\n

\n\t‘‘Choice is very important to An Foras Pátrúnachta and we are delighted that parents’ preferences were considered as part of this patronage selection process. The new school in Portlaoise will provide diversity in being both co-educational and multi-denominational.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t \n<\/p>\n

\n\t‘‘Our aim is provide Irish-medium education to every child who wants it. The Irish-medium unit will ensure that there is more diversity of language provision and we will use our expertise to grow the Irish-medium unit in the new secondary school into an independent Gaelcholáiste under the co-patronage of the two organisations.’’\n<\/p>\n

\n\t \n<\/p>\n

\n\tENDS<\/strong>\n<\/p>\n

\n\t \n<\/p>\n

\n\tContact: Sarah Harte \/ Laura Harmon DHR Communications, Tel: 01-4200580 \/ 087-9858259 \/ 086-1738455 <\/strong>\n<\/p>\n

\n\t \n<\/p>\n