Catherine Murphy
Question:320. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education the way in which the reconfiguration of the schools' system in Ireland will and or is proceeding (details supplied) . [38584/22]
View answerWednesday, 13 July 2022
Questions (320)
Written answers
In March 2022 I announced that arrangements are being put in place in a number of towns and areas of cities that have no multi-denominational primary schools at present as part of a pilot arrangement. This work involves identifying potential schools and engaging with school authorities, school staff and the school communities with a view to agreeing on a transfer of patronage and change of ethos, where there is sufficient demand for this.
The Council for Education of the Irish Episcopal Conference (representing the Catholic patrons) and relevant Bishops have confirmed their willingness to engage and co-operate fully with the Department in seeking to facilitate a more diverse school patronage in these towns and cities.
The pilot areas are:
|
Arklow |
Athlone |
Cork* |
Dublin* |
|
Dundalk |
Galway* |
Limerick* |
Youghal |
*parts of these cities
The first step in the local engagement - meetings with relevant Bishops, the Department and the local facilitator in each pilot area – has been completed. The facilitators are following up with diocesan representatives and the next stages of engagement are underway in some areas.
Where feasible, the aim is for transfers to take place for September 2023. To facilitate a September 2023 transfer, decisions would need to be made prior to the end of 2022 to allow for the various steps to be completed.
The learnings from the process in the pilot areas should provide a pathway forward on the process for providing multi-denominational options for parents in other towns and areas of the country going forward.
Most primary school property is in private ownership (often the Diocesan trust), with the local Bishop as patron. Where transfers of patronage take place and the school property owner is not the Minister for Education, lease arrangements between the property owner and new multi-denominational patron will be required and this will be dealt with on a case by case basis.