Sir, – In relation to “Synge Street CBS is to admit girls for first time in 160 years and become an all-Irish Gaelcholáiste” (News, September 11th), we welcome your focus on education in Dublin 8.
However, as a community group dedicated to securing a new multidenominational secondary school for Dublin 8, we feel that it is necessary to note two suggestions made in the article.
Dublin 8 has not been “depopulated”. In fact, some parts of Dublin 8 have had very high population growth compared to other parts of the city.
There have been no “community secondary schools” (as mentioned in the article) established in Dublin 8.
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As a result, children who wish to attend a multidenominational school must leave the local area, perhaps to attend Sandymount Educate Together secondary school, which, surprisingly, was established to serve Dublin 8, and it is a 90-minute commute each way for some children. In fact, secondary school children in Dublin 8 have some of the longest commutes in the country.
Educate D8 welcomes the news of CBS Synge Street becoming a co-ed Gaelcholáiste, as it will offer more choice for students living in Dublin 8.
We would also like to reiterate our urgent call for a new inclusive multidenominational secondary school for all children in the Dublin 8 area, regardless of religion, gender, language ability or additional education needs. In fact, we believe all children in Ireland deserve access to truly inclusive education in their local community. – Yours, etc,
MARIA GOLPE VARELA,
on behalf of Parents from the EducateD8 Campaign,
Dublin 8.
