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Schools Establishment

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 March 2018

Tuesday, 27 March 2018

Ceisteanna (258, 259, 260, 262, 263, 264)

Kathleen Funchion

Ceist:

258. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there are plans from a new co-educational, multidenominational, non-fee-paying, second-level school for children attending primary schools of such an ethos in Dublin 6, Dublin 6W, Dublin 8 and Dublin 12; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13778/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Kathleen Funchion

Ceist:

259. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department has identified a methodology and timeframe for the determination of a catchment area for a proposed school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13779/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Kathleen Funchion

Ceist:

260. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the patronage of a proposed school (details supplied) will be decided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13780/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Joan Collins

Ceist:

262. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans for a new co-educational, multidenominational, non-fee-paying, second-level school for children attending primary schools in Dublin 6, Dublin 6W, Dublin 8 and Dublin 12. [13823/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Joan Collins

Ceist:

263. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department has identified a methodology and timeframe for the determination of the catchment area for a proposed school (details supplied). [13824/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Joan Collins

Ceist:

264. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the patronage of a proposed school (details supplied) will be decided. [13825/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 258 to 260, inclusive, and 262 to 264, inclusive, together.

As the Deputies may be aware, in order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas. My Department uses a Geographical Information System to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise. This system uses data from a range of sources. With this information, my Department carries out nationwide demographic exercises at primary and post primary level to determine where additional school accommodation is needed.

Such exercises, involving all school planning areas including the areas referred to by the Deputies, are currently ongoing. It is anticipated that decisions based on these exercises will be announced in the coming weeks, after which patronage processes will be run to decide who will operate each school.

A patronage process is run after it has been decided, based on demographic analysis, that a new school is required. This patronage process is open to all patron bodies and prospective patrons. Parental preferences for each patron from parents of children who reside in the school planning areas concerned, together with the extent of diversity currently available in these areas, are key to decisions in relation to the outcome of this process.

The patronage process for new schools is overseen by an external independent advisory group, the New Schools Establishment Group (NSEG). Following their consideration of my Department’s assessment reports, the NSEG submits a report with recommendations to me for consideration and final decision. The assessment reports and the NSEG recommendations for all such patronage processes are available on my Department's website.

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