Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 January 2010
1051 Deputy Ruairí Quinn asked the Minister for Education and Science the ethos and organising bodies of the patrons of schools (details supplied); the religious ethos to which these schools adhere; the reason these organisations were recognised as patrons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1110/10]
View answerThe Deputy lists two patron bodies, who applied for and received provisional recognition for the schools as listed by the Deputy. The schools referred to are classified as having a multi-denominational ethos.
The first body is a limited company, who follows the Steiner ethos of education and received provisional recognition for two schools under the New Schools Advisory Committee's process.
The second body is a registered company with charitable status, whose approach to education is based on putting philosophical principles into practice in education.
Provisional recognition was granted to all of the schools in question on the basis that both patron bodies would abide by the rules and regulations of the Department of Education and Science in relation to Patronship/Board of Management, teacher qualifications, curriculum, admissions policy, viability, procedures for the appointment of teaching staff, and that the Education Act 1998 and the Rules for National Schools would be complied with.
