John Halligan (Waterford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising the question, which gives me the opportunity to set out the process by which it is decided who will operate a new school. Since 2011, new schools are established only in areas of demographic growth. My Department uses a geographical information system to identify the areas under increased demographic pressure nationwide. The system uses a range of data sources in carrying out nationwide demographic exercises to determine whether additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary levels. As the Deputy will recall, the outcome of such demographic analyses was the November 2015 announcement that four new primary school and nine new post-primary schools would open in 2017 and 2018 to cater for increased demographic needs.

When it is decided that a new school is required to meet demographic needs in an area, the Department runs a separate patronage process to decide who will operate the school. It is open to all patrons and prospective patrons to apply for patronage of a school under this process. The criteria used in relation to patronage of a new school place a particular emphasis on parental demand for plurality and diversity of patronage. Parental preferences for each patron, together with the extent of diversity available in the area, are key to decisions in relation to the outcome of the process.

In April 2016, applications were invited for the patronage of the nine new post-primary schools to be established in 2017 and 2018, including the new post-primary school to serve the Limerick city and environs in the south-west area. The closing date for receipt of applications for this process was 8 June 2016. Patrons submitted with their application a parental preference template in which parents had been requested to declare their preference for their child to be educated through that patron's school model and also their preference with regard to education through the medium of English or Irish. The assessment process is at a very advanced stage in the Department. As the Deputy will appreciate, the process is detailed and rigorous, and numerous applications have been received in respect of each of the nine proposed new schools. The new schools establishment group is an external independent advisory group set up to oversee the process. The new schools establishment group is meeting next week and a report with its recommendations should be submitted to the Minister, Deputy Richard Bruton, shortly thereafter for his consideration and final decision, and I will also receive it. He will then announce who is the successful patron of each school.

In the context of the common applications system which operates in Limerick, the Department has been liaising with the Limerick Education Centre in this matter and understands that post-primary school opening days and nights are ongoing. The assessment reports and recommendations of the NSEG will be available on the Department’s website following the announcement. I will look into the particular school and if the Deputy would like to meet me, it would be no bother. I would be delighted to sit down with her and see if we can push it forward as soon as possible. I understand the necessity of it.

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