Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 February 2014
106. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the progress made by the Catholic management in the 23 primary schools where parents voted in 2013 to change the patronage of the school and to divest control from the Catholic Church; when his Department expects this change to happen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7248/14]
View answerNo Catholic primary school has voted to change its patronage or divest control of its building from the Catholic Church.What has happened is that, following on from the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary School sector, 43 towns with stable populations were surveyed to determine if parents in those towns want a greater choice of primary school. In 28 of these areas, parental demand for more choice was identified.
I wrote to the Catholic patrons in each of these areas and requested that they identify re-configuration options which would allow a suitable school premises to be made available for an alternative patron provider.
My Department is working with the patron bodies to try to advance progress in a number of areas where potential options have been identified. While this is a slow and sensitive process, it is hoped to have progress in a small number of areas soon, in order for sufficient time to be given to new patrons to open from as early as this coming September.
