Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 July 2017
357. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to undertake another parental demand survey to assess levels of demand in each area for multi- and non-denominational schools; the areas in which there was deemed to be a high parental demand for multi- and non-denominational schools in the last survey; the level of demand identified; and if this demand has been fulfilled or not. [34877/17]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, the report of the Advisory Group to the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector recommended that demand for patronage diversity should be met in areas of stable population by divesting patronage of existing schools where there is evidence of parental demand for change.
In 2012/13, my Department undertook surveys of parental preferences in 44 areas of stable population to establish the level of demand for a wider choice in the patronage of primary schools. Sufficient demand emerged in 28 areas and intensive consultations followed with the main Catholic patrons in each of these areas to discuss divesting options.
I would point out that this model of divestment yielded only a very limited number of schools for transfer to multi-denominational patrons (10 since 2013).
As the Deputy will be aware, following discussions on patronage divesting with education stakeholders and patron bodies in 2016, on the 30th January, 2017, I announced new plans aimed at providing more multi-denominational and non-denominational schools across the country, in line with the choices of parents, families and school communities and the Programme for Government commitment in this area.
I believe that the new schools reconfiguration for diversity process has the potential to significantly increase patron diversity in our school system with a target of reaching 400 multi-denominational and non-denominational schools by 2030.
While these new structures are being introduced, my Department will continue to work with the main stakeholders to progress delivery of diversity in the areas already identified, in 2017 and beyond.
