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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 1 Apr 1987

Vol. 371 No. 6

Written Answers. - Co-Education Schools.

89.

asked the Minister for Education the present number of co-education schools in existence; the proposals she has to ensure that co-education will prevail in all new schools; and the proposals she has to discriminate in favour of schools committed to co-education, equality of choice and curriculum extension.

At national school level, 2,492 out of the 3,266 schools are co-educational in all standards. A further 186 schools are co-educational in infants and first standards, with the remaining standards being organised on a single-sex basis. * New schools will continue to be organised on a co-educational basis, as has been the practice for many years.

The reorganisation of school provision on a co-educational basis will be facilitated, having regard to the overall educational provision in an area.

At post-primary level there are 439 co-educational schools in existence at present. My Department have an active policy aimed at promoting the optimum educational opportunities for both boys and girls.

In furtherance of this policy all "greenfield" second level schools are co-educational. Again the policy of rationalisation being implemented by my Department usually involves the amalgamation of existing small and sometimes single sex schools into new co-educational units. My Department will continue to encourage co-educational schools to offer the maximum range of subject choice to their pupils. In this regard the school inspectorate are always available to advise school authorities who wish to improve their subject options and to make optimum use of their existing resources.

*These figures refer to 1984-85, the most recent year for which statistics are available.

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