Vol. 518 No. 3
300 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science his views on whether a procedure could be put in place under which parents could initiate consideration of conversion of a single sex school to a co-educational school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11561/00]
Any proposal to change the status of a school from single-sex to co-educational should involve full consultation within the school community, including parents, and with equivalent schools in the area.
The process should also involve securing the agreement of the patron, as owner or trustee of the school property, and my approval as Minister for Education.
Provided this approach is followed, I would see no difficulty with the process being initiated, for example, by the parents' council or by the parents' representatives on the board of management.
