Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South-West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Cummins. The Deputy's first Topical Issue was extremely well delivered. The Deputy may have answered the question in her own statement but we will get to that later. I appreciate the comments and I will feed back a lot of that.

On the provision of multidenominational education, the Government is committed to increasing the provision of education in line with the choices of parents, families and school communities. Work is under way in the Department, by the Minister, Deputy McEntee, to deliver on this objective. Since 2011, new arrangements have been in place for the establishment of new schools involving the forecasting of demand for school places based on demographic exercises carried out by the Department. The new criterion for new school entities ensures that all new schools are co-educational, but ethos is determined during the patronage process.

These arrangements give an opportunity to patrons to apply for the patronage of new schools. The criteria used in deciding on the patronage of new schools place a particular emphasis on parental preference and language preferences and an analysis of existing provision in the areas where the schools are being established. This approach is underpinned by a 2011 Government decision.

The patronage process is open to all patron bodies and prospective patrons. New schools are only established in areas of demographic growth, as the resources available for school infrastructure must be prioritised to meet the needs of areas of significant population increase to ensure that every child has a school place. Based on demographic analysis undertaken, it is deemed that there is not a sufficient unmet demand in Dublin 8 to establish a new school at present and that increasing demographics can be met from within existing schools. Requirements for school places will be kept under ongoing review in this region and across the country.

Separately, the schools reconfiguration for diversity process, supporting transfers of schools to multidenominational patrons in response to the wishes of local communities, has been developed in order to accelerate the delivery of multidenominational schools. When a school transfers from the patronage of one patron to another, the school remains open with the same roll number and operating from the same school property. All State-funded primary schools follow a common national curriculum and are subject to the same Department rules and regulations.

Given the importance of increasing choice for parents, the Minister, Deputy McEntee, intends to launch a survey of primary school communities shortly. This survey will ensure we have a greater picture as to what our plans need to be into the future. It is planned that the survey will ask parents for their preferences on important aspects of school provision and choice, including demand for a multidenominational ethos. The results of the survey will help us plan how we provide education at primary level into the future. Further details regarding the survey will be announced in due course.

I realise this may not be the answer Deputy Cummins is looking for. According to the Department’s statistics and its analysis of the area, it feels there are no unmet needs in the Dublin 8 area but it has also given a chink of light, in that the matter is under review. I have outlined the other process where a school can be transferred to multidenominational management if there is a will and desire among the parents in the school community to do that. I can get the Deputy more details on that process if necessary.

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