Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 8 October 2014
201. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills her proposals to meet the post-primary requirements of the various scoileanna Gaeilge; if she has received submissions in this regard from the various school authorities; if she will be in a position to advance proposals in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38473/14]
View answerThe establishment of any new school is considered in the context of the overall need for additional school places to meet future demographic demands. New schools are then advanced in line with an objective process and criteria for determining patronage and language medium of instruction.
As part of the arrangements for establishing new post-primary schools, an initial decision is made by my Department, before seeking applications for patronage, on whether the schools will operate through the medium of Irish or English. This approach will apply for all new post-primary schools being established into the future.
My Department has received a small number of submissions from advocacy groups in relation to all-Irish post-primary provision in their areas. The information submitted will be considered in the context of the current analysis of demographic data being carried out by my Department on a nationwide basis to determine where additional primary and post-primary school accommodation might be needed from 2015 onwards.
