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School Patronage

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 December 2018

Tuesday, 18 December 2018

Ceisteanna (218, 219, 220, 221, 222, 223)

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

218. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the way in which it is established which parents are eligible to vote for patronage of newly proposed schools nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53067/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

219. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the decision-making process used and workflow processes engaged in setting up the e-voting system for parents voting for patronage in circumstances in which new school builds are identified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53068/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

220. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills his definition of "ordinarily resident" in respect of a parent's eligibility to vote for the patronage of newly proposed schools nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53069/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

221. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the location the local authorities in each of the newly proposed schools districts nationally have given written notification to his Department to specify the ordinarily resident rule; if he will provide same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53070/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

222. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if recently built housing estates and newly zoned regions are included in the catchment areas for schools; the way in which this information is processed by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53071/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

223. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the newly developed housing estates in County Kildare he has specifically excluded as being eligible to vote in the system for parents voting for patronage in which new school builds are identified; if consideration has been given to the impact on new families that have moved into the estates; the way in which he plans to communicate this message to new residents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53072/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 218 to 223, inclusive, together.

In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a Geographical Information System, using data from a range of sources, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise. My Department also engages with each of the local authorities to obtain the up-to-date data on significant new residential development in each area. With this information, my Department carries out nationwide demographic exercises to determine where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary level.

Where demographic data indicates that additional provision is required, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may, depending on the circumstances, be provided through either one, or a combination of, the following:

- Utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools;

- Extending the capacity of a school or schools;

- Provision of a new school or schools.

In April 2018, the Government 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.

In addition to the new schools announced, there will be a need for further school accommodation in other areas in the future. The requirement for new schools will be kept under on-going review and in particular would have regard for the increased rollout of housing provision as outlined in Project Ireland 2040.

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/guardians 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.

All new schools established since 2011 to meet demographic demand are required to prioritise enrolments from the designated school planning area(s) which the school was established to serve. Therefore, only parents of eligible children residing in the relevant school planning area(s) can express a preference with regard to the patronage of the new school. This does not preclude schools from enrolling pupils from outside of the designated school planning area, rather it reflects the need to accommodate in the first instance the demographic for which the school was established.

A new Online Patronage Process System (OPPS) has been developed to provide objective information to all parents and guardians which will allow them to make an informed choice in expressing a preference for their preferred model of patronage and language of instruction for their child’s education.

The OPPS website allows parents to access the appropriate survey for their area, to input the details of the eligible child(ren) and to select their preferred patron and language of instruction. Eligibility to express a preference in the patronage process for primary schools to be established in 2019 requires that a child is due to start primary education in the 5 year period 2019 to 2023; and that the child is resident the relevant school planning area. It is important to note that the eligibility conditions for parents to express a preference with regard to patronage have not changed since the introduction of the OPPS.

In order to express a preference, parents are requested to submit their Eircode upon entry to the system in order to determine whether they are eligible to express a preference for patronage of the new school. As set out on OPPS website, if parents experience any issues with the site, including issues related to Eircodes, my Department can be contacted at opps@education.gov.ie.

The patronage process for new schools is overseen by an external independent advisory group, the New Schools Establishment Group (NSEG). Once the online system for patronage preferences closes, the Department completes assessment reports for the NSEG on each area.

Following their consideration of the 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 made available on my Department's website.

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