Schools Recognition.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 February 2010

Wednesday, 3 February 2010

Questions (313)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

Question:

378 Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Education and Science if there is an inconsistency in the matter of granting permanent recognition to second level all Irish schools in view of the fact that his Department conferred permanent recognition on a school in County Kilkenny with an enrolment of 86 students, permanent status for a school in County Monaghan with 150 students, while a school in County Kildare with 140 students enrolled, a history of increased annual enrolment since its establishment and significant further projected increases has yet to receive permanent recognition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5440/10]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe)

The school to which the Deputy refers applied to my Department for permanent recognition in October 2008 which was the 2008/09 school year.

When it applied for temporary recognition initially, the school supported its application with a projected enrolment of 232 pupils for the 2008/09 school year. The actual enrolment was 105 pupils. Its enrolment in the current school year is understood to be 140. This compares with a projected enrolment from the school of 271 pupils.

The growth of the school is, therefore, considerably slower than expected given that it has a number of feeder schools from which it can attract pupils. However, the Department recognises that the potential is there for a long term viable entity and it extended the school's temporary recognition for a further three years to allow it the opportunity to develop its enrolments further on this basis.