Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 6 May 2010
15 Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills when she expects the ten schools that are shortlisted for a transfer of patronage to occur; if she will hold the plebiscite of the local communities involved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18304/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe issue of the Catholic Church divesting itself of certain schools was originally explicitly raised by Archbishop Diarmuid Martin. In discussions on this matter, senior representatives of the Catholic Church and my Department agreed that it was essential to engage in planning for change. In order to advance the matter, my Department agreed that it would examine a number of initial locations to see what scope or options might exist for change of patronage in these cases. The particular focus was on identifying a sample number of areas of relatively stable demographics where the establishment of new schools was unlikely to emerge in the foreseeable future and where the provision is exclusively Catholic or where there is very limited diversity of provision at present. The aim is that these areas can then be used to trial the modalities by which the number of Catholic places and schools will be reduced and released for others.
The production of a potential list of locations by the Department will, of course, only be a first step. The decision on the identity of the particular Catholic school or schools that should close because of a surplus situation must ultimately rest with the patron and the Catholic community in the parish or parishes concerned. This means consultation within the parish or diocese, with the parent body of the schools and with the staff of the schools. Following any such identification by the Catholic community, there would then need to be consultation with the local community generally, including prospective patrons, on the future patronage of the identified schools. Officials in my Department are currently carrying out an assessment of 10 locations where changes to patronage may be warranted, given changed demographic profiles in recent decades. This assessment involved the initial identification of 10 locations and detailed work on these. However, it may be necessary to re-identify some further areas if some of the initial 10 locations appear not to be suitable. My Department has not yet completed this assessment. When the assessment is completed it is planned to establish a list of 10 locations where such change may be warranted. The aim is to complete the assessment within the next month with a view to publication of the list.
