Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 March 2022
565. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education if a similar arrangement has been in place for the other almost one dozen schools nationwide that were reconfigured from Catholic patronage to ETBs; if so, the amount that is being paid to the various dioceses; and if this is the plan for future reconfigurations. [15093/22]
View answerOwnership and control of school property is a complex issue, both constitutionally and in terms of property law and rights. Typically, it can involve religious trusts, trustees, religious orders, the bishops both as landowners and school patrons and the State.
Where a school property is in the Minister’s ownership, a leasing arrangement will not arise.
However, for historical reasons, most primary school property is in private ownership (often the Diocesan trust), with the local Bishop as patron.
Where the property owner is not the Minister for Education, lease arrangements between the property owner and new patron will be required and this will be dealt with on a case by case basis.
It is envisaged that this will take into account factors such as that following a transfer of patronage the school premises will continue to be used as a school for the benefit of local children, the property will benefit from continued State investment in the upkeep, maintenance or improvement of the premises and that the property may have benefitted from State capital investment in the past.
The cost of maintaining buildings insurance on the property by the owner will also be factored in.
In respect of the transfers of patronage which have already taken place, the rental amounts would have been agreed as part of discussions on the leasing arrangements. This would have been agreed on an individual basis, prior to the arrangements in the pilot areas being put in place, and would have taken into account local circumstances.
