The document discusses the need for a new secondary school in Dublin 8. It notes that currently children have to travel long distances out of the neighborhood for school each day due to a lack of options. Residents express that having a school close to home that is mixed-gender, non-denominational, and has good facilities is very important for children and the community. However, the area is lacking in secondary school options that meet these criteria. A new school in Dublin 8 could help address issues of exclusion, accessibility, and serve the growing population of families with school-aged children in the area.

1. https://d8newschool.ie/

2. Unacceptable travel times
Exclusion
Not a priority
Waiting too long

3. Unacceptable travel times
Exclusion
Not a priority
Waiting too long
Sustainable, inclusive
D8 community

4. My child travelled over an hour a day to go to a
Co-educational school with a decent academic
reputation. This would not have been the case
if there had been a Co-educational school in
the neighbourhood

5. It would be great to have a secondary
school our children could walk to
I hope my daughter can be educated in
a supportive school, that is within,
cycling or walking distance from her
home

6. We need a mixed school in Dublin 8,
that is in a safe & accessible location.
It's shocking that children have to
travel so far on public transport or
shared bicycle routes to school.

7. I think having a school close to home is so
important it’s vital for our children and
community. Based in Kilmainham the
current secondary schools are so far and
when you have a younger child with a big
age gap I personally don’t know how I would
get them both to different schools at the
same time.

8. Second level educational is so neglected in the Dublin
schools area. With more home planned to be built
the problem will only get worse. This should be top of
the agenda for all local politicians, not housing.
They are elected through serve the people in the area
and any new homes should also bring additional
services.

9. The children of D8 for years have had an appalling level of
access to sports / green space / education, while public
officials have pursued an aggressive policy of putting hotels
and students accommodation to the forefront of the needs
of local people . The results have been inevitable with
some of the highest levels of drug use, homelessness and
crime in Ireland and which have been driven by neglect by
the Dept of Education and Dublin City Council . The
question has to be asked is the Government / DCC in
contravention of children's rights under the Aarhus
Convention.

10. If I could choose any school, it would be one that was in the local area, was free, had
boys and girls, and was non-denominational. It would have good facilities including
extra-curricular activities and sport, and offer all subjects. However this is sadly lacking
here. My child does not get to attend a local school because of his gender and is
separated from friends from primary. He was in another school in D8 that was mixed-
gender, but to gain admission we had to reveal personal information about our
religious upbringing -- very awkward and invasive. And then at the end of his Junior
Cert year we found out that the school does not teach chemistry and physics (which
he wanted to take) unless 'enough children demand it'. We were told that this
wouldn't be known until school started in 5th year. For us this was the straw that
broke the camel's back, so now we are paying huge fees and he is travelling halfway
across the city to a school where he knows no-one.
All of this is very unfair and reflects extremely poorly on one of the richest countries
on the planet.

11. When the Celtic tiger crashed, housing became affordable and a
lot of young adults and couples bought houses and moved into
the D8 area. A really creative, open minded group of people,
educated and cultured. The Dublin 8 area has changed so much
in the last 7 years!!! For the better and it's because of these
people. Now we have children....Amazing, open minded and
creative children..... who are being educated in amazing primary
schools like Canalway Educate Together national school! The
Government need to realise that they need to keep these kids
and their families in the area.... Dublin needs to clean up its act
and keeping these families in the area will make it happen. We
need more secondary schools in the area or we'll be moving
down the country....

12. Harold's cross is a great location for Dublin 8 and it's
very unfair that we are not in the catchment area
It is of great importance that the school is located
in Dublin 8 area to limit time spent traveling to and
from school

13. Yes, Dublin 8 needs another secondary school,
there are lots more children than places
available!! When I was attending the Oblates
School back in the 1980's there was always
talk of a secondary school going in there!!!!
The second option I would back would be the
OPW furniture shop
Been discussed
for years but too
late for my
children now.
I felt we did not have a choice when
picking a secondary school for our
children

14. I would prefer to see investment in the existing schools,
including to grow their student numbers if required by local
demographics. I would like to see improved educational
outcomes for all children in D8, not just the ones whose
parents exercise choice in school selection. Start-up schools
are challenging for all sorts of reasons, and Dublin 8 has a
number of existing local schools which should benefit from
improved resources and opportunities, and could also
integrate the growing, diversifying and gentrifying
community.

15. https://d8newschool.ie/