Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 May 2018
173. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the location and patronage of the new schools recently announced in the capital plan for County Kildare; if such details are not available, if he will provide available information in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19031/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, I announced plans for the establishment of 42 new schools over the next four years (2019 to 2022). This announcement follows nationwide demographic exercises carried out by my Department into the future need for primary and post-primary schools across the country and the 4-year horizon will enable increased lead-in times for planning and delivery of the necessary infrastructure.
Following on from the announcement, the locations for all of the schools will be determined as part of the site acquisition process.
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. It is expected that patronage processes for schools due to open in September 2019 will be run in 2018.
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.
An Online Patronage Process System (OPPS) is currently being developed by my Department to provide objective information to all parents which will allow them to make an informed choice about their preferred model of patronage for their child’s education. Parental preferences are currently collected based on direct engagement with patron bodies.
