Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this Topical Issue matter, which is of considerable importance to two different communities in the county I represent. My question relates to the status of Mol an Óige Steiner national school in Ennistymon and Raheen Wood Steiner national school in Tuamgraney, both of which are co-educational, multidenominational, mainstream schools. Raheen Wood has been in existence for 23 years while Mol an Óige is a more recent development. For the past five years, both schools have had temporary recognition, which ensures the provision of staffing and accommodation support from the State. This basic right was long outstanding and granted only after protracted negotiations and a court case going back some time.

The status of both schools is currently under review by the Department of Education and Skills. I understand Raheen Wood was recently given a further three-year extension of its temporary recognition status while the board of management of Mol an Óige is meeting with departmental officials today to discuss that school's position. The main difficulty, so far as I can see, is a lack of willingness by the Department to progress these schools towards full recognition. In particular, I understand concerns have been raised in regard to the curriculum. This suggests to me that the Department has an issue in coping with the notion of teaching diversity. Raheen Wood school, which has 114 students, has shown results above the national average for primary schools in tests in which students participate after two, four and six years of schooling. Despite this positive feedback, there seems to be a closed mind within the Department in regard to diversity of teaching models.

I appeal to the Minister of State to investigate the situation. It is not appropriate in this day and age that temporary recognition status should be dragged out in this protracted way. The schools are performing exceptionally well in terms of the proven capacity of students to learn. Parents and management need certainty as to the future of their schools if they are to develop them in line with other schools in the county. Permanent recognition is a prerequisite for that planning and if they are to put in place the type of infrastructure that is needed in order to work towards the long-term needs of current and future students. The quality of education delivery is such that people have relocated to be close to the schools. I ask the Minister of State to examine the inflexibility within the Department in terms of the rigorous approach that is taken to this particular teaching model. The teaching methodologies incorporated in this model have been successfully employed in these schools, for more than 20 years in the case of Raheen Wood. Many past pupils have gone on to second and third level and are now employed in various walks of life. The Department must re-examine the available data if it is not yet convinced of the capacity of these schools to provide the appropriate level of education to pupils. Such an analysis would give comfort to the Department that the model of education being delivered in these schools is meeting the needs of children and parents and has a significant benefit for society. Above all, I ask the Minister of State to intervene to give certainty to parents and communities that these schools will be awarded permanent status and may thus begin the process of developing their services and infrastructure for the future.

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