Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 January 2015
205. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the way her Department has measured school diversity in Kildare North in terms of facilitating the major prevailing preferences of parents; the types of schools her Department has identified at this stage as being the likely ones to need more investment to meet this demand; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2994/15]
View answer206. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the criteria used by her Department in measuring choice with regard to school models; the way diversity, co-education, cultural diversity and multilingualism are factored in; if she will provide an update on the reform of patronage models; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2998/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 205 and 206 together. Nationwide, the Department expects that it will be required to provide some 152,000 extra primary and post-primary school places in the coming years. The Department's capital budget will be focused on providing those place to ensure that every child will have access to a physical school place. My Department uses a Geographical Information System to analyse demographic data to determine the areas where additional school accommodation may be required. A variety of data sources are used in this analysis, including census data, school enrolment data and child benefit data obtained from the Department of Social Protection. Where new primary schools are needed, the model of provision is decided by an open patronage determination process, which is overseen by the New Schools Establishment Group. The criteria for awarding patronage place an emphasis on parental choice and diversity of provision, including language medium of instruction. Where new schools are not needed but some level of additional accommodation is required in an area to meet demographic demand, a range of factors are considered as to which school or schools should be provided with this accommodation. These factors include the level of diversity of provision in the area and the ability or otherwise of existing school sites to facilitate the extra accommodation. The Deputy will be aware that a recent nationwide demographic exercise was carried out to determine where additional primary school accommodation will be needed from 2015 onwards at primary level. This exercise concluded that there is sufficient primary educational infrastructure in the north Kildare area for the foreseeable future. The schools in the area are, therefore, expected to cater between them for the level of demand presenting for pupil places. This may result in pupils not obtaining a place of first choice. With regard to an update on the reform of patronage models, I assume the Deputy is referring to the patronage divesting process. Five schools have so far been opened under this process. All of these schools are under the patronage of Educate Together. Four commenced operation in 2014 and one commenced operation in 2013. I expect to be in a position to announce the schools that will be opening in 2015 in the coming weeks.
