The Milltown School Initiative (MSI) was set up in March 2015 by a group of local parents and residents to campaign for the establishment of a new national school in Milltown. The MSI is asking the Department of Education and Skills for a new school to fulfil the needs of the local community of over 4000 residents, a population that has more than doubled since the last school closed in 1995.

The MSI conducted an in-depth survey in May 2015 that found that children in the area currently attend a total of 19 schools all over Dublin city and county. With the surrounding schools already oversubscribed, the school that the children of Milltown attend are quite often quite a distance.

The census data shows the increasing birth rate of 64 new children per year, enough children to fill two Junior Infant Classes! The MSI wants to secure an education offering to the residents, as well as establish a strong sense of community.

Since its inception in March, the MSI has had huge success with a meeting with the Minister of Education and Skills, Jan O’ Sullivan TD, have had numerous public meetings and community fun days, have been on national radio and we’ve also been published in national and local media.

Currently they are running a door to door petition campaign which has been signed by 100s of households. They have already secured an offer of patronage under the City of Dublin ETB, so having already demonstrated that the need is certainly there, really they are hopeful and optimistic of a positive decision by the department.

The campaign needs all the support it can get, so please do get behind it. You can find out more about the campaign, lend your support or get in touch with the MSI directly via the website www.milltownschool.ie, on Facebook or on Twitter

Article provided by Milltown School Initiative

Comments