Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 November 2016
246. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the location of all schools under religious patronage which he expects to be divested in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34783/16]
View answerFrom 2013 to 2016, ten new schools have opened under the patronage divesting process. Details, including the location, of the two schools which opened in September 2016 are set out in the following table.
I consider the establishment of these ten schools as an initial but important step in giving parents confidence of the Department’s intent about providing a plurality of education and a real choice for them in the type of primary school in their localities.
The Government is committed to progressing the development of a dynamic and innovative education system that reflects the diversity of twenty first century Ireland. The Programme for a Partnership Government reflects the Government's objective of strengthening parental choice and further expanding diversity in our school system, specifically by increasing the number of non-denominational and multi-denominational schools with a view to reaching 400 by 2030.
In addition to the phased transfer of Catholic schools to new patrons already under way, this requires considering new ideas and new approaches to substantially accelerate the changes in school provision in order to achieve greater diversity. I am progressing the patronage divesting/reconfiguration programme as a priority in this context. I plan to announce the new approaches which will be pursued in that regard within the timeframe indicated in the Action Plan for Education.
|
Roll Number |
Name |
Address |
School |
Denomination |
Year |
|
20494Q |
Riverview ETNS |
Limekiln Road, Greenhills, Dublin 12 |
Educate Together |
Multi denominational |
2016 |
|
20457K |
Castlebar ETNS |
Castlebar, Co. Mayo |
Educate Together |
Multi denominational |
2016 |
