Educate Together school in Greenhills welcomed

By Laura Lyne

A NEW Educate Together primary school is set to open in September 2016 in the former St Peter’s BNS building in Greenhills.

The announcement was made last Monday by the Minister for Education and Skills, Richard Bruton following an agreement from the Archdiocese of Dublin to take over the accommodation.

The school building had been left vacant following the amalgamation of St Peter’s BNS and St Paul’s Girls Primary School in Greenhills last year, which saw the creation of Holy Spirit National School.

Since the amalgamation, Holy Spirit NS has been accommodated in the former St Paul’s primary school premises.

The announcement followed a campaign by parents for the establishment of an Educate Together school in Terenure, with the school expected to serve the areas of Dublin 12, Dublin 6 and Dublin 6W.

It will be known as Riverview Educate Together, and enrolment for Junior Infants in September 2016 has opened.

The announcement of the new school was welcomed by local independent councillor Dermot Looney, who also hoped that the former pupils of St Peter’s BNS needs will be met in Holy Spirit NS.

He said: “As a councillor, as a teacher and as a local resident, I want to congratulate all those involved in the campaign and wish them well for September.

“I sincerely hope their children have the same positive experience in the school building where my brothers and I were educated, and where I started my own journey as a teacher.

“The news solves the dual problems of a vacant school building, and a desire locally for Educate Together education amongst many parents.

“I have spoken with many parents in the wider area whose children are not baptised – the open admission policy of this new school will be a huge relief to them, given the difficulties they face.

“I truly believe this is a good day for Greenhills and the wider area, and a good day for education.”

Further information about Riverview Educate Together and how to enrol can be found at www.educatetogether.ie