Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 November 2016
221. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills if current statistics on the ethnic and religious diversity in primary schools are available; if so, if he will release the statistics for the school year 2015-16; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34641/16]
View answerThe National School Annual Census is the definitive source of statistics on primary pupils up to and including the 2015/2016 academic year. The Census does not contain information on ethnic or cultural background or on religion. The Primary Online Database (POD) which replaces the National School Annual Census as the definitive source of statistics from the 2016/2017 academic year onwards contains this information. Data from POD for the 2015/2016 academic year (which will be indicative only) are in process of being edited at present and will be made available early in 2017.
