Derek Nolan
Question:831. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the criteria for new school patrons to apply to be on the possible school patron list; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29157/15]
View answerTuesday, 14 July 2015
Questions (831)
Written answers
The recognition of a patron is linked to the establishment of a school. My Department identifies the requirement to establish new schools based on demographic requirements. When my Department identifies the requirement for a new school in an area, the requirement is publicised and applications are invited from prospective patron bodies. A prospective patron body does not have to be on a list of recognised patrons to apply for patronage of a school. A prospective patron needs to have sufficient structure, continuity and reliability to conduct the responsible functions of patron, such as:
- appointment of the board of management
- suspension, if necessary, of the board of management
- responsibility for the school's characteristic spirit, for which the board of
management is accountable to the patron
- ultimate responsibility/liability for industrial relations
- responsibility for school property (and insurance)
- financial matters — annual budgets and reports
- decisions on school status, such as extension, amalgamation, closure
- the responsibilities agreed in the covenant with the Minister for Education and Skills.
A prospective patron needs to be able to demonstrate that it is capable of conducting the patron responsibilities in an ongoing way. For a group that is not a statutory body and wishes to be established as patron of a school, the group needs to establish itself as a corporate entity or as some other acceptable legal entity. In this process the group should articulate its educational philosophy and educational objectives in the memorandum and articles of association. The group should name three members as directors/trustees. The prospective patron should have charitable status.
Existing or prospective patrons may apply for patronage of any new school. A major criterion for the selection of a patron body is the extent to which it can demonstrate that a school under its patronage would extend or strengthen diversity of provision in the area, having regard to the views of parents.
A patron body must also satisfy my Department's requirements for establishing a new school set out in the document "New Arrangements for Patronage of New Schools" on my Department's website – see link hereunder: http://www.education.ie/en/Schools-Colleges/Information/Establishing-a-New-School/New-Primary-Schools/Invitation-for-applications-for-patronage-of-new-Primary-Schools-to-start-September-2015.pdf.