Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Generally, when a new school is advertised, the scale of the intake envisaged is indicated. The Department issued an indication of the scale of the school such as an eight classroom, one class intake. It is not envisaged that it would deviate from that arrangement because the scale of the school is based on the identified demographic need. The Department would have established the need based on the catchment area and designated the scale of the school that was needed. The successful patron will decide the admissions policy. As in all cases, the Department has a broad framework relating to admissions but it is up to the patron to adopt the specific admissions policy. That has no doubt been a factor in the choice of parents.

With regard to enrolment and whether special education needs provision will be required by any of the children, that cannot be anticipated until we know the children enrolled in the school but there may be information available when enrolment is confirmed from preschool experience or other data sources the Department uses and I will revert to the Deputy in respect of that. I assure him that if there is scope to release the name of the patron, I will do so.

No report has come from the group to me recommending which of the three groups who applied to be patron of this school have been successful based on parental preferences.

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