Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 7 February 2018
124. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a school (details supplied) has been advised to limit its intake of students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6226/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy may be aware the report of the Advisory Group to the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector recommended that demand for patronage diversity should be met in areas of stable population by divesting patronage of existing schools where there is evidence of parental demand for change.
In this context, in 2012/13, the Department of Education and Skills undertook surveys of parental preferences in 43 areas of stable population to establish the level of demand for a wider choice in the patronage of primary schools. Sufficient demand emerged in 28 areas, and consultations followed with the main Catholic patrons in each of these areas to discuss divesting options.
In the majority of the 28 areas surveyed, the level of parental demand for a wider choice indicated a long-term projected size of up to half a single stream school (comprising of 4 classrooms) being required to accommodate such a level of demand and this is clearly outlined in the Reports on the Surveys regarding Parental Preferences on Primary School Patronage published by the Department in December 2012 and April 2013. Based on the current pupil teacher ratio of 26:1, half a single stream equates to a junior infant intake of 13 pupils.
The schools under the patronage divesting process are opened in areas of relatively stable populations and accordingly there is little prospect that new schools will be established there over the next number of years for demographic reasons. Therefore, the only mechanism for alternative patrons to become involved in school provision in these areas was through the possible divestment of some existing school provision in the areas provided there was sufficient parental demand for wider choice of patronage.
A number of schools opened under this process, including the school referred to by the Deputy, were contacted by the Department in the context of their enrolment numbers reflecting their school accommodation capacity.
In the case of any school applying to expand its intake, the Department examines school size in order to preserve a balance among all schools in an area and to ensure that one school is not expanding at the expense of another. In addition, schools which are located in temporary accommodation may need to restrict their intake in line with the temporary accommodation available. While the situation may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice, the Department’s main responsibility is to ensure that the existing schools in the area can, between them, cater for the demand in that area. The Department’s principal priority in the allocation of scarce capital funding has to be in providing sufficient school places in areas of demographic growth.
Should a school’s patron wish to make a case for an increase in the school’s intake level, a proposal can be submitted to the Department where it will be reviewed in conjunction with the current demographic data, available accommodation and capacity levels of all schools in the relevant area. A case has been submitted to the Department in respect of a number of divested schools and this is currently under consideration.
My Department is currently carrying out nationwide demographic exercises at primary and post-primary level to identify areas of demographic growth and determine where additional school accommodation is needed in order to plan for school provision. It is anticipated that these exercises will be completed in the coming weeks. In this context, the outcome of these nationwide demographic exercises will input into consideration of the case submitted in relation to the schools opened under the patronage divesting process.
