Vol. 471 No. 6
47 Ms O'Donnell asked the Minister for Education the minimum enrolment number required in order to sanction a newly established multi-denominational primary school; the number of this minimum enrolment figure which must be junior infant children who have never attended school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21184/96]
In the case of the 13 exclusively multi-denominational schools established since 1978, no minimum level of overall enrolment, or of junior infant enrolment, was laid down for the granting of official recognition. Rather, the growth potential of the applicant schools was determined by my Department on the basis of a detailed examination of each application. The question of granting permanent recognition was considered in the light of each school's development after a number of years of operation, at which stage it would have been possible to project ultimate size and, consequently, the amount of State aided accommodation to be provided.
More recently, however, as a result of significant demographic decline, my concern to ensure the viability of all applicant schools has increased considerably. This was a major factor in my decision to establish the Commission on School Accommodation Needs, whose task it will be to draw up detailed criteria for the recognition of new primary schools. I will consider what specific conditions may be required in the case of new multi-denominational schools in the light of the commission's recommendations.
