Skip to main content
Normal View

School Patronage

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 January 2013

Tuesday, 22 January 2013

Questions (151, 282, 288)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

151. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which he continues to engage with the authorities in smaller and-or rural schools, including those under the patronage of the Church of Ireland, with a view to ensuring that the educational needs of such communities continue to be met in a fair and equitable fashion and have ongoing and readily available access to the full spectrum of educational facilities; if his attention has been drawn to the concerns of some school patrons in this regard; if he expects to be in a position to give a reassurance in the face of such concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2613/13]

View answer

Bernard Durkan

Question:

282. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which he or his Department has received communication from the relevant management authorities at local level in regard to any rationalisation in respect of smaller rural schools; if he will continue to have regard for the local community needs and traditions with a view to meeting community requirements to the maximum extent possible in the current year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3123/13]

View answer

Bernard Durkan

Question:

288. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which he continues to have dialogue with the various denominational school authorities of small rural schools with a view to minimising the impact of any budgetary constraints; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3129/13]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 151, 282 and 288 together.

The Government recognises that small schools are an important part of the social fabric of rural communities. They will continue to be a feature of our education landscape. In these extremely challenging times, all public servants are being asked to deliver our public services on a reduced level of resources and teachers in small schools cannot be immune from this requirement.

How best to sustain provision for widely dispersed and small Protestant communities does present as a particular challenge especially in any locality where enrolment in their schools is declining to single figures and amalgamation is not an option because there is no other school nearby. The Government is intent in fostering pluralism in school provision. Supporting minority churches in maintaining their schools is part of that policy.

A Value for Money examination of small schools is being carried out and my Department expects to publish the analysis and findings in the near future. I hope that this report will foster constructive engagement both in the Oireachtas and among all interested parties in looking at the challenges ahead and how best to make provision for primary education in rural and dispersed communities.

My Department and I will continue to engage with the relevant education sector stakeholders, including the Church of Ireland, in relation to education provision for all areas.

Top
Share