Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 April 2023
621. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education if the Education Training Board has completed its 2018 report on pluralism and patronage in schools; when that report is set to be released; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18334/23]
View answerThe Schools Reconfiguration for Diversity process, supporting transfers of schools to multi-denominational patrons in response to the wishes of local families, has been developed in order to accelerate the delivery of multi-denominational schools across the country. This Reconfiguration process involves the transfer of existing live schools as opposed to the amalgamation and/or closure model of the patronage divesting process.
The initial identification phase of the process involved each of the 16 Education and Training Boards identifying an initial pilot area within their functional area where they considered there may be unmet oncoming demand for more diversity within the local educational provision and arranging for surveys of parents of pre-school children in these areas. It was intended to publish the reports when they were submitted to the Department in 2018/2019. However, publication of the reports have been deferred pending conclusion of the Department’s engagement with representatives of the Council for Education of the Irish Episcopal Conference (IEC). My Department has been engaging with representatives of the Council for Education of the IEC with a view to developing an agreed approach to the next Phase of the process. The identification phase work provides useful learning and is informing the development of the process.
In this context, in March 2022, I announced that arrangements were being put in place for a structured engagement process with school communities in a number of pilot areas in order to provide more multi-denominational options where there is demand for this. The pilot areas are parts of the cities of Cork, Dublin, Galway and Limerick and also the Arklow, Athlone, Dundalk and Youghal areas.
The aim of this pilot, which engaged with 63 schools across the 8 pilot areas, is to provide information, engage with and seek feedback from the school community.
My Department is examining learnings from the pilot and will work with relevant stakeholders to apply this learning to future phases of work. My goal is to establish a strong process, that has the support of patrons and local communities, and which will enable us to continue to increase the number of multi-denominational primary schools across the country.
