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Education Policy

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 May 2022

Tuesday, 17 May 2022

Ceisteanna (446)

Carol Nolan

Ceist:

446. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education the details of her Department’s policy toward single-sex primary and post-primary schools; if it is the intention of her Department to phase out the use of single-sex schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24243/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I wish to advise the Deputy that the decision-making authority in respect of the status of existing schools, including whether they are single sex or co-educational, belongs to the Patron, subject to the agreement of the Department.

Procedures in place since 2011 dictate that new schools are established to serve areas of significant demographic growth. This allows the Department to direct capital investment to areas of most need.

For school planning purposes, the Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a Geographical Information System, utilising data from a range of sources including child benefit data, departmental pupil databases, CSO statistics and information on recent and planned housing developments to forecast school place requirements at primary and post primary level.

Having considered the projected requirements in each school planning area, the Department then makes an assessment of the existing capacity within that particular area and its ability to meet any increased demand.

Where data indicates that additional provision is required at primary or post primary level, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may 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.

Generally, where a new school is identified as the optimum solution, such new school provision (primary and post-primary) is co-educational in nature. Co-educational schools provide greater flexibility than single sex schools in terms of meeting demographic and school accommodation requirements in an area. Single-sex provision may, however, be made if there is an identified imbalance between the capacities of single-sex schools in the area.

With respect to school building projects generally, replacement school buildings for existing schools, other major building projects and smaller scale Additional School Accommodation scheme projects are approved on the basis of the accommodation need and single-sex schools are not excluded from such provision.

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