Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 March 2015
544. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the date on which she will publish the White Paper on Patronage and Pluralism in Primary Education; and the reason for the delay. [12679/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraA follow-up paper to the Forum Report entitled 'Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector: Progress to Date and Future Directions' was published on 1 July 2014. The paper gives an update on the progress made to date on implementing the Forum's recommendations on new schools, divesting of patronage, enrolment legislation and the development of programmes on Education about Religion and Beliefs and Ethics. The paper also outlines good practice and options for promoting diversity in schools.
Following publication of this paper, officials in my Department have continued to engage with stakeholders on these matters. In this context, I welcome the recent publication by the Catholic Schools Partnership of guidelines on good practice on inclusion in primary schools. The Department is continuing to progress the Forum's recommendations, including the patronage divestment process. The work to date and future directions were summarised in the paper published in July and, in light of this, I have no proposals to publish a White Paper.
