Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022
1100. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education the process that he has in place to enable the divestment of schools under Roman Catholic patronage to other forms of patronage; if her Department is working towards a target for the number of schools to divest in the next year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40776/22]
View answerIn 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 reconfiguration 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.
Pilot Areas
|
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 of patronage 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.
