Patrons of new secondary schools announced

Minister for Education Ruairi Quinn has announced the patrons of 14 new post-primary schools that are due to open over the next two years.

12 of the schools are to be run by secular bodies, while religious organisations will run the other two.

Four of the new schools will open in September 2013 and the remainder will open the following year.

The new schools are in response to a massive population surge.

The VECs have been awarded patronage of the bulk of the new schools.

Irish language body An Foras Pátrúnachta will run two, both in Co Dublin suburbs.

Educate Together has been awarded patronage of one school in Dublin's Blanchardstown, but it will also share patronage of a new school in Drogheda with the local VEC.

The education body, which currently acts as patron only at primary level, has expressed delight with the news.

The religious schools sector is also happy.

For the first time in more than 20 years two new religious secondary schools will open; a Catholic one in Dublin's Mulhuddart and a Church of Ireland school in Wicklow's Greystones.