Minister for Education signs deeds of trust for community schools in the Dublin area.
A formal signing ceremony is held in the Department of Education on Marlborough Street for the deeds of trust relating to the governance and operation of nine Dublin community schools. To date, one deed in Dublin for Portmarnock Community School has been signed. Elsewhere, Castletownbere in County Cork and Birr in County Offaly have also been signed.
The schools involved in the mass signing ceremony have been in operation for some time at Ballinteer, Old Bawn, Springfield, The Donahies, Balally, Tallaght, Blakestown, Baldoyle and Greendale.
For Minister for Education, John Wilson, the signing ceremony is the culmination of lengthy negotiations going back to 1971.
This is the final step on one road, but it is also the initial step on another road.
John Wilson explains the purpose of community schools is,
The provision of educational opportunities by way of a range of curriculum options for the pupils from each community, and the functioning of the schools as an integral part of the community in its area.
The general purpose of the schools, as set out in the deeds of trust, is to contribute towards,
The spiritual, moral, mental and physical well-being and development of their communities.
The Minister is confident that with the support of their trustees, board of management, principals, teachers and the community,
Every one of these schools will succeed admirably in achieving that purpose.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 8 April 1981. The reporter is Kevin O'Kelly.
