Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)

As the Deputy will be aware, on last Thursday, 18 June, the inspectorate of the Department of Education and Science published a whole school evaluation report on the school referred to in his question. The evaluation described the quality of educational provision at the school as highly unsatisfactory. I have expressed my clear concern about the serious weaknesses that were identified in the report, including poor teaching and learning, inadequacies in child protection policies and unacceptable standards in the general management of the school.

As part of the whole school evaluation process, the inspectors who conducted the evaluation have made detailed recommendations and have directly advised the school authorities and staff of the improvements the school must undertake. In light of the seriousness of the weaknesses evident in the school, senior officials from the Department have met the patron of the school and the chairperson of the school's board of management on a number of occasions to impress on them the need for change and improvement in the operation of the school. The representatives of the school have accepted the report's findings and recommendations. The patron has confirmed that steps have been taken and progress has been made in respect of a number of the report's recommendations. Officials from the Department will hold further meetings with the school authorities to ensure all the issues raised in the report are addressed. Departmental inspectors will continue to visit the school in the next school year to monitor progress and provide advice as appropriate.

The Department of Education and Science has engaged frequently with the school in question since 2003, when concerns were identified by the departmental inspectorate and other concerns were brought to the Department's attention. The school has been visited several times each year. Extensive advice, support and guidance have been provided to staff and principals of the school and the chairpersons of its board of management. This action was supported by other officials in the Department, who engaged with the management of the school to insist on improvements being acted upon. Some progress was achieved at the school, especially in the 2005-06 school year when a newly-appointed principal, supported by the local inspector, implemented several improvements. These improvements were not supported by the then school management, regrettably, and the principal left the school.

At this point, inspectors and departmental officials met representatives of the management of the school to insist on improvements being made and regulations adhered to. The inspectors continued to monitor the work of the school. A new board of management and chairperson were appointed by the school's patron in January 2008. The whole school evaluation was another step by the inspectorate to assess the improvements being acted on and set the agenda for change in the future. I assure the Deputy that my officials will continue to engage closely with the patron and the board. The quality of the school's work will be monitored through inspection visits during the coming school year.

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