Four new primary schools in Dublin will be run by Educate Together when they open.
They will cover areas including Killester, Donaghmede, Clonskeagh and Goatstown.
Educate Together describes itself as an equality-based school option.
Parents in each area campaigned to make sure their new schools would be run by Educate Together.
The schools will cover the catchment areas of:
- Donaghmede/Howth/Dublin 13
- Dublin6/Clonskeagh/Dublin 6W
- Goatstown/Stillorgan, Dun-Laoghaire Rathdown;
- Killester/Raheny/Clontarf
Paul Rowe, CEO of Educate Together, said the announcement "suggests that as our network grows and expands, families in Ireland continue to seek our model of equality-based education".
"To this end, I would like to pay tribute to our existing schools that provide such a great example of what Educate Together school communities are all about".
He also thanked "the campaigners and volunteers that gave up their time in the middle of Winter to advocate for equality-based schools for their community".
Says Gerry McKevitt, Regional Development Officer at Educate Together, described the awarding of patronage as "a huge validation".
"I'm delighted for the start-up group members that campaigned so enthusiastically for these schools", he said.
Edcuate Together hopes to open five secondary schools in Dublin and Meath by 2020.
