Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 February 2018
190. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools that have been issued with a letter from his Department directing them to cap their enrolment to half stream; the denominational breakdown of these schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6879/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra208. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason his Department is retrospectively seeking to impose a growth restriction on recently opened Educate Together schools in Tramore, New Ross, Castlebar, Trim and Tuam against the lawful preference of a significant number of families in these areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7096/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra209. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason his Department is instructing Educate Together schools to turn away large numbers of families in Tramore, New Ross, Castlebar, Trim and Tuam (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7097/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra210. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason his Department is restricting the long-term viability of developing schools in Tramore, New Ross, Castlebar, Trim and Tuam when his Department's 2012-13 forum of patronage and pluralism report recommended that accommodation options for a full stream of provision should be considered for each area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7098/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra213. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a cap has been placed on enrolment to a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7177/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 190, 208 to 210, inclusive, and 213 together.
As the Deputies 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, my Department 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. These areas were all stable in terms of population growth, so no new school places were required, however sufficient demand for more choice emerged in 28 areas, including in Tramore, New Ross, Trim, Tuam and Castlebar.
In the majority of the 28 areas surveyed where sufficient demand emerged, the level of parental demand for a wider choice indicated a size of half a single stream school (comprising of 4 classrooms) being required to accommodate such a level of demand.
The establishment of Tramore Educate Together National School (ETNS), New Ross ETNS, Trim ETNS, Tuam ETNS and Castlebar ETNS as half stream schools (4 classrooms) has its origins in the “Report on the pilot surveys regarding parental preferences on primary school patronage” and the “Report on the surveys regarding parental preferences on primary school patronage” and is also cognisant of the available accommodation. This has been reflected in my Department’s engagement with the patron of the schools, Educate Together, and was reiterated in correspondence and communications with these schools.
A case has been submitted by Educate Together to my Department to further expand Tramore ETNS, New Ross ETNS, Trim ETNS, Tuam ETNS and Castlebar ETNS 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 and this work is almost complete. In this context, the outcome of these nationwide demographic exercises will input into consideration of the case submitted by Educate Together.
