Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 October 2023
312. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Education the reason that a school (details supplied) is not recognised by the State; if, since 2007, the school has applied to be recognised; if so, the outcome of this application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42397/23]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy, that my Department is not in receipt of an application from the school in question for recognition.
Private primary schools are not recognised schools under the Education Act, 1998 and therefore do not fall within the remit of the Minister for Education. The Department has no responsibility regarding funding or any other matter relating to private primary schools that are not recognised by the Minister as such schools are privately owned and managed.
New schools are established by my Department on the basis of identified demographic demand in an area, and after consideration of the capacity of existing schools to absorb the expected school place demand. A patronage process is run after it has been decided, based on demographic analysis, that a new school is required. This patronage process is open to all patron bodies and prospective patrons. Such new schools are recognised by my Department.
The new Online Patronage Process System (OPPS) has been developed by my Department to provide objective information to all parents and guardians which will allow them to make an informed choice in expressing a preference for their preferred model of patronage for their child’s education.
There is no mechanism for the establishment or recognition of new schools outside of this process.
