As the Deputy may be aware, as part of the new arrangements for the establishment of new post-primary schools, which I announced in June 2011, I said that an initial decision would be made by my Department, before seeking applications for patronage, on whether the school would operate through the medium of Irish or English and that applications would be sought from patrons when this decision was made.
In inviting applications for the new post-primary schools to be established on 2013 and 2014 patron bodies were informed about which schools would operate through the medium of Irish. The new school to be established in Maynooth in 2014 will provide instruction through the medium of English. However, one of the requirements that must be satisfied by prospective school patrons is the confirmation of willingness to establish an Aonad where there is demand for it (for a school where the primary medium of instruction is to be English). The closing date for receipt of applications for new post-primary schools to be established in 2013 and 2014 is 24 February 2012. Full details of the new arrangements for patronage of new schools and the criteria for deciding on patronage of these new schools are available on my Department's website.