Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 February 2023
268. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Education if she will give an update on a proposal to reconfigure three primary schools (details supplied); if she will put a mechanism in place to allow local Deputies for the constituency to obtain timely responses to their queries about the proposal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7838/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra272. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education for an update on the reconfiguration of a diversity programme in three schools (details supplied); when the reconfiguration report for these schools will be available to parents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7853/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 268 and 272 together.
In respect of the engagement with the three schools referred to by the Deputies in Raheny, the facilitator has completed their information meetings with the relevant boards of management, Principals, staff and parents of pupils in each school. Before and after each engagement with a stakeholder, the facilitator and patron’s representative engaged to consider the views expressed and queries raised.
The facilitator is currently preparing their preliminary report on the engagement with the Raheny schools, for submission to the patron of the schools. It is intended that this preliminary report will be circulated to the Raheny school communities, who can provide feedback and share their views with the facilitator and my Department via the dedicated reconfiguration e-mail addresses.
The facilitator will then consider any feedback submitted by the school community via the dedicated e-mail address and may reflect this in their final report to the school patron as appropriate.
After the school patron receives the facilitator’s report, the patron can reflect on the level of demand as indicated in the report. The patron should then communicate with the schools on whether there is sufficient demand for transfer of patronage and change of ethos or whether the school community wishes to remain under Catholic Church patronage.
The relevant email address to contact the reconfiguration team with views and queries in relation to the engagement process is reconfiguration_dublin@education.gov.ie.
