Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 February 2013
322. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if any guidance or directions have been given by his Department to schools located within areas in which patronage surveys are being carried out regarding the organising by schools of meetings to discuss the patronage surveys; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5626/13]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that in preparation for these surveys a Code of Conduct was agreed between my Department and all of the current and prospective patron bodies. The Code of Conduct provided that there would be no canvassing campaign conducted in any area by any of the patron bodies. It was agreed that all the necessary information and documentation would be distributed by my Department.No direct contact was made with individual schools in the survey areas by my Department in advance of the survey, other than asking them to facilitate the process by distributing information leaflets to parents of children in their school.These information leaflets were also distributed via a postal leaflet drop to households in all of the specified areas.
