Key Asks

D8 Secondary School - Key Asks

Aim: To secure commitment from the Minister of Education, Normal Foley to commit to and fund a new secondary school in Dublin 8, that is accessible to all. Current Situation: There are currently 5 secondary schools located in Dublin 8 - Mercy Secondary School Inchicore, Presentation Warranmount…

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Aim:

To secure commitment from the Minister of Education, Norma Foley to commit to and fund a new secondary school in Dublin 8, that is accessible to all.

Current Situation:

• There are currently 5 secondary schools located in Dublin 8 - Mercy Secondary School Inchicore, Presentation Warranmount, CBS James Street, CBS Synge Street and St. Patrick’s Cathedral Grammar School. The first four are run by Catholic religious orders and are DEIS Schools. St. Patrick’s Grammar School is affiliated with the Church of Ireland. There are currently 1,147 students attending these schools (651 boys, 496 girls). Based on 2016 census data, there is currently a population: secondary school place ratio of 39: 1 in Dublin 8. This compares to a ratio of 13:1 in nearby Dublin 4 (where are 7 secondary schools, with 2,817 places).
  
• According to Dept of Education data, there is only enough secondary school spaces for one in every three children that finishes primary school in Dublin 8 (exact stats available from Dept). According to our survey, only 27% of D8 (and closeby) parents send or plan to send their children to a D8 secondary school.
  
• All 5 secondary schools in Dublin 8 follow either a Roman Catholic or Church of Ireland ethos, despite only 53% of the people living in Dublin City Council area being Catholic (source CSO 2021) and 23% being no religion. In 2016, one third of the population living in Dublin South West Inner city were born outside Ireland (v 17% for the rest of Dublin) (CSO 2016). 65% of parents in D8 want to send their children to a non or multi-denominational school (D8 parents survey), despite there being none in the area, and D8 not being in the catchment area for nearby Harold’s Cross ETSS. To send their children to an ETSS, the only option is Sandymount Park ETSS in Dublin 4, which takes one hour each way from most parts of Dublin 8.
  
• Despite being a compact, urban area, secondary school students in Dublin 8 are spending an average of 64 minutes per day travelling to and from secondary school (D8 parents survey) versus the national average of 39 mins (CSO 2022). 47% of households in South West Inner City had no access to a car in 2016, compared to 13% nationally. South West Inner City students are predominantly travelling to secondary school by active transport means (56%) or public transport (24%). 89% of parents want to send their children to a secondary school close to home, yet 71% are travelling more than 2km (D8 parents survey). This negatively impacts the sense of community cohesion and further fuels class divides.
  
• Despite the low number of secondary school spaces available, some are still undersubscribed, while others are extremely oversubscribed (247 students applied for 48 places in St. Patrick’s Cathedral Grammar School). The main reason parents are not planning to/ sending their children to a D8 secondary school are

•     Disagreeing with the religious ethos of the school (48%) – there is currently no school in D8 without a religious ethos.

•    Academic Reputation (43%) – Dublin 8 schools have a 57% progression rate to third level v 96% for nearby Dublin 6, but we acknowledge academic reputation goes far beyond progression to third level.

•    Lack of available places (31%) – there is currently only one space available for every 3 children who leave primary school in Dublin 8.

•    No Irish language option (24%).  (Dublin 8 parents survey)

• Based on our D8 parents survey, 64% would like to see an Educate Together Secondary School in D8, while 33% want an Irish language school.

Our Asks:

1.     The Dept of Education commits to fund a new, mixed, non-denominational school in a central D8 location, giving access to children of all genders, religions, ethnicity and academic ability. (E.g. OPW Building, South Circular Road)

2.       The Dept. of Education considers an accessible Dublin 8 site as the location for a  new, mixed, non-denominational Gaelcholaiste that will be a central location to service surrounding areas (D2, D4, D6, D8). (E.g. DIT Aungier Street)

3.       The Dept. of Education increases funding to existing Dublin 8 schools to improve subject choice, academic outcomes and increase progression to third level education.