Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 March 2015
821. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding administrative control of schools (details supplied) in Dublin 10; if consent was sought to change these schools to co-educational schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12041/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has agreed to the request submitted by the Patron for a change to fully vertical co-educational status for each of the three schools referred to in Dublin 10. As the Deputy may be aware, any proposal for a change in status must first involve consultation with all of the relevant school stakeholders. Following the consultation process, a decision taken at local level will follow. All agreed proposals must be submitted to my Department for approval.
In February 2015, the Patron advised my Department that the Boards of Management of the three schools referred to in Dublin 10 had applied to the Patron for a change of status to commence in September 2015. The Patron also advised that the applications concerned were made following an intensive consultation process at local school level involving parents, teachers and the Boards of the schools. The culmination of these consultations were applications from each of the schools for a change of status to co-education based on the expressed interest in co-education and also the requests each year from parents that their boys remain in their current school The Patron also, however, advised that in relation to the fourth school under its Patronage in Dublin 10, this school had indicated that there was no demand for a change in its status.
The change of status for the three schools in question will be effective from September 2015 and is being introduced on a phased basis starting with second class only for the new school year in September 2015 and building up incrementally each year thereafter.
