Jimmy Devins (Sligo-North Leitrim, Independent)

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Mary White, for sharing time with me.

I am pleased to have an opportunity to speak to this important Bill, which gives effect to the provision of primary education by the vocational education committees at the direction of the Minister for Education and Skills or on its own initiative. It also allows a VEC to act as the patron of a primary school.

It is interesting to note the following statistics. Almost 85% of primary schools are currently under the patronage of the Catholic Church, while almost 6% are under the patronage of Protestant religions and 2.3% are either interdenominational or non-denominational.

Some years ago, the former Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Mary Hanafin, announced the intention to devise a new model of patronage, one that was intended to allow those of many different religions and none to attend a school where the patronage would be representative of the students attending the school. It is important to remember that the primary school system in Ireland is well established and has served the country well during the past 150 years or thereabouts. There is no doubt that were it not for the active participation of the main religions in the establishment and running of schools during the past 150 years, we would not have the educational system we have today.

I pay tribute to the many people who have served or serve on boards of management under the direction of the various school patrons and thank them for their time and expertise. It is often overlooked in the current climate that these are given in a voluntary capacity. Without these individuals, Irish education, especially primary education, would not be as strong as it is today.

We have heard a great deal recently about third level education. It is timely to remind ourselves that the foundation stone of education for all of us is that which we receive at primary level, hence the importance of ensuring that the primary school system is representative of Ireland in the 21st century. This Bill is a recognition of modern Ireland in which all religions and none are recognised and practised and all our citizens and their children are treated equally.

It is also worth remembering that funding for primary schools is State provided. Hence, we have the strange position in which the State provides the funding but responsibility for the management of a school lies with its patron and board of management. This model has worked well and all those involved deserve credit. Nevertheless, stresses and strains are beginning to emerge and the circumstances in which this country finds itself must be taken into account.

Last night, it was announced that the vocational education committees are to be reorganised and their number sharply reduced. In the present climate, reorganisation and re-evaluation of all State services must be undertaken. Giving the VECs an opportunity to become patrons of primary schools and become actively involved in primary education will be a severe challenge to the VEC sector. However, when one considers their success at second level one concludes that the outlook is good.

In my constituency of Sligo-Leitrim, the success of many of the schools under the control of the VEC is well recognised. I will briefly refer to one such school, Ballinode Community College in Sligo city, which has developed great expertise in the provision of PLC courses and has more than 600 students attending PLC courses. Students travel from all over Connacht, from north Donegal and as far as counties Mayo and Galway, to attend the school and avail of the variety of courses on offer at PLC level. These courses have a great reputation in preparing students for the next stage of their education.

I appeal to the Minister with responsibility for PLCs, who has been supportive of County Sligo VEC submissions in recent years, to look kindly on requests for further increases in funding for this ever-growing and important sector. Ballinode Community College, with minimal funding, has been transformed in recent years and the ever increasing student numbers and wide geographical area from which its students come is testament to the success the principal, Mr. Joe Carolan, his staff and County Sligo VEC have achieved on the path they are travelling. Taking this as an example of how the VECs can respond to new challenges, I have no doubt they will be able to fulfil their role as primary school patrons with equal if not greater success than envisaged in the Bill.

I will briefly allude to a number of issues arising from the Bill. I am sure most of them will be addressed in greater depth on Committee Stage. It will be a challenge to the VEC sector to mobilise the voluntary help which is an essential support to primary schools. One only has to think of the many voluntary fundraising events organised by parents and friends, whose support is vital to the everyday running of their local primary school and which, given the current financial climate, will become even more important in future. While I have no doubt the VEC sector will be up to this challenge, it is important from day one that it recognises the challenges that will have to be faced in this area.

A second issue that will arise is the teaching of religion and how the curriculum will be managed in this regard. Early liaison with parents who choose to send their children to the proposed new schools should help resolve potential difficulties in this regard. Parents have the ultimate right to choose what religious instruction is given to their children. I am sure the main faiths will become actively involved in this area, if required. We live in a multiethnic society. It is important, however, that schools established under the Bill do not fall into the trap of becoming ghettoised and thus stigmatised.

Other challenges also arise, including the employment of unregistered teachers. If unregistered teachers are to be employed, strict criteria must be in place to safeguard the quality of the teaching supply. This issue needs to be fully teased out on Committee Stage. I concur with Deputy Enright's comments in this regard.

Overall, this is a brave initiative by the Minister and I commend her on her courage in taking it. I welcome the Bill which will, in time, be recognised as an important milestone in Irish primary school education.

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