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05 November 2009

First SETSAG Newsletter

November Newsletter
Newsletter – November 2009Apologies for the delay in issuing this first SETSAG Newsletter we will endeavour to issue updates at least once a month going forward. A quick overview of what has happened over the last six months is as follows:
  • Blueprint: The most exciting development was the launch by Educate Together of the Taking the Next Step: A Blueprint for Educate Together Second Level Schools during the Summer in the Morrison Hotel. This is an exciting document and represents a major step forward in the approach to secondary education in Ireland.
  • Parental Interest: Catherine and Siobhan of SETSAG setup a stand in Swords ET National School and several hundred parents indicated their preference for their children to continue their education under the same ethos i.e at an Educate Together Secondary School. This exercise will be repeated shortly in the recently opened Thornleigh Educate Together N.S. in Applewood and also next year if the proposed Educate Together N.S. school opens in Holywell.
  • Fingal Development Plan 2011 - 2017: We have made submissions for the new Fingal Development Plan to Fingal County Council on the need for a new secondary school in Swords. In informal conversations they have indicated that this need is even recognised in the present Development Plan, what is lacking is a specific plan for a specific school on a specific site.
  • Site of new school: As part of a Planning Application for Moorestown submitted in June (Planning permission F09A/0319), Gerry Gannon included a provision for a 14 acre site for a secondary school. This application has been temporarily withdrawn for technical reasons but it is the most probable site, at this moment, for a new secondary school in Swords.
The last meeting of SETSAG took place on the 2nd of November at Swords E.T.N.S. A brief synopsis of the items discussed is as follows:
  1. Networking/Lobbying: Gerry and Malcolm attended the Thornleigh E.T.N.S, which was attended by Trevor Sargent, Michael Kennedy and the Mayor of Fingal, Ciaran Byrne.
  2. Fingal County Council: A letter (along with two 'Blueprints') was sent to Fingal County Council indicating SETSAG's wish to engage with FCC on the planning of the next Secondary School in Swords. John O'Brien (Community, Culture & Sports Division) was very supportive of this idea, indicating that at present there is no specific plan but that the next Secondary School could well be on the Gerry Gannon site in Mooretown. He further indicated that FCC is interested in taking a more active role than it has hitherto in such planning even though it has no statutory role as such. However, the first step is for a specific site and school to be included in the next development plan, so he passed our letter onto the Planning Department.
  3. Councillors: John O'Brien of FCC recommended that we lobby the following Councillors as part of our efforts:

    Cllr. Clare Daly      clare.daly@fingalcoco.ie   087 2415576
    Cllr. Gerry McGuire      gerry.mcguire@fingalcoco.ie   087 2381980
    Cllr. Anne Devitt      anne.devitt@fingalcoco.ie  01 8409728
    Cllr. Tom Kelleher      tom.kelleher@fingalcoco.ie  01 8402425
    Cllr. Darragh Butler      darraghbutler@fingalcoco.ie  087 9595378
 
  1. Sub-committee: A communication sub committee was formed consisting of Siobhan, Malcolm and Tony for the purposes of making better use of the website and issuing regular newsletters.
  2. Stand in the Pavillions: Shay is liaising with the Pavilions Swords about setting up a stand where the 'Blueprint' document can be handed out and prospective parents details can be taken.. It was decided to put this out until Feb. 2010.
  3. Open Night: The Open Night as Swords ETNS for parents will take place on the 26th November from 18.30~20.00. SETSAG will endeavour to have a stand at this.
  4. Next Meeting of SETSAG: will take place on the 30th of November 2009 at 20.00 at Swords ETNS.

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