Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 May 2016
303. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills to outline how parents can make a submission to his Department regarding the patronage of new second level schools in the Dublin 15 area; if he is aware of the new second level school to be built in the Carpenterstown-Castleknock area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12942/16]
View answerThe criteria used in relation to patronage of new schools places particular emphasis on parental demand for plurality and diversity of patronage, with parental preferences at the centre of the process. In this regard, patron bodies and prospective patrons applying for the patronage of a new school announced by my Department must collect and demonstrate evidence of parental demand for the model of provision proposed as part of their application under the patronage process. Expressions of parental preference are not submitted directly to my Department by parents.
As you may be aware on 26 April 2016 applications were invited for the patronage of nine new post-primary schools to be established, six in 2017 and a further three in 2018. This included a proposed new school to serve the Carpenterstown/Castleknock area of Dublin 15.
The closing date for receipt of applications for this process is Wednesday 8 June 2016 and in line with the arrangements referred to above, patrons must submit with their application a parental preference template in which parents have been requested to declare their preference for their child(ren) to be educated through that patron's school model and also their preference with regard to education through the medium of English or Irish.
Following the closing date, my Department will carry out an analysis and draft a report based on the applications received for the consideration of the New Schools Establishment Group (NSEG) which will submit a report with recommendations to me for consideration and final decision.
I will announce the successful patrons and the language medium of instruction for these new post-primary schools in due course. All of the relevant information in relation to the post-primary patronage process is available on my Department's website.
