Educate Together currently operates 35 primary schools nationwide and the organisation has just announced approval for five new schools due to open in September 2005. Twelve more communities are lobbying for the establishment of Educate Together national schools (ETNSs) in their areas.

The rapid growth in demand for ETNSs is a reflection of the serious scarcity of primary school places in many of Ireland urban centres and commuter belts. Parents also value the multidenominational ethos of these schools at a time when greater numbers of primary school applicants have not been baptised as Catholics.

The new schools will be located in Balbriggan, Co Dublin; Tyrrelstown, Co Dublin; Gorey, Co Wexford; Galway North/Claregalway, Co Galway; and Dungarvan, Co Waterford.

"This development highlights the continuing trend of voluntary groups of parents in association with the National Office opening schools in areas of rapid housing development," says Kate Morris of Educate Together.

The demand for places in primary schools, and in ETNSs in particular, is highlighted by the long waiting lists typical of these schools.

The following is breakdown of the waiting lists for some of the bigger ETNSs:

Griffeen Valley, Lucan, Co Dublin: 177 junior infants turned down, 85 non junior infants turned down for September

Castleknock ETNS, Dublin 15: 30 still on waiting list for September

Castaheaney ETNS, Dublin 15: 35 still on waiting list for September

Galway ETNS, Co Galway: 103 still on waiting list for September

Swords ETNS, Co Dublin: 80 still on waiting list for September

Tyrrelstown, Dublin 15: Hugely developing area with a massive demand for places in the ETNS that is to open in September.