Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 January 2024
274. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education to provide, in tabular form, a list of second-level education institutions aided by her Department whose school gender has changed from girls to mixed since 2000, indicating the year the school began admitting boys, and the school's roll number and planning area in each case. [2436/24]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, the decision-making authority in respect of the status of existing schools, including whether they are single or mixed gender, belongs to the Patron, subject to the agreement of my Department.
New schools are established by my Department to meet demographic need and, generally, such new school provision (primary and post-primary) is mixed gender in nature. Co-educational schools provide greater flexibility than single sex schools in terms of meeting demographic and school accommodation requirements in an area. Single-gender provision may, however, be made if there is an identified imbalance between the capacities of single-gender schools in the area.
In relation to existing schools the decision making authority for a change of status belongs to the Patron and this is subject to the agreement of my Department. Any proposal to change the status of a school must involve consultation with all of the relevant stakeholders, parents, teachers, students and local communities and follow decisions taken at local level.
Attached is list of 7 post primary schools which were approved a change in status from girls only to co-education since 2000.Info
