Sir – It is stated by the chairperson of the County Dublin VEC: “A lot of children in the area go to VEC schools and I think they have been very happy with the education provided” (“Educate Together vies with VEC to be school patron”, Gráinne Faller, Home News, December 14th). This may be the case, although the article does not quote him offering any evidence to back this up. Even so, it is not a basis for seeking patronage for a post-primary school for Lusk.
I am sure there are a large number of people satisfied with the standard of education in post-primary schools under religious patronage, but the patron selection process must also take into consideration the choices offered to people living in the area. There is no greater opportunity to now establish an Educate Together post-primary school in the short-term than in Lusk.
There are a number of VEC post-primary schools in surrounding areas such as Balbriggan, Swords, Skerries and Donabate; there are also a number of faith-based post-primary schools in Balbriggan, Swords and Rush. It emerges that there is to be a Gaelcholáiste established in Balbriggan, which is a very welcome development.
There are, however, no VEC primary level schools in Lusk or surrounding areas. Although one of the three primary schools in Lusk is under the patronage of Educate Together.
Ruairí Quinn would be offering a full choice to people of the area by appointing Educate Together as the patron of the new post-primary school in Lusk. – Yours, etc,