Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 37: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when her Department will make a decision on the application of County Clare Vocational Educational Committee to become the patron of two primary schools in the county; her views on this new departure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13578/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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There is an established procedure under which any potential sponsors of a new school or a group seeking recognition under the Education Act for a school that is already operating can apply for recognition of the school concerned. If a school is granted recognition the person or body that requested recognition becomes the patron of the school as defined in the Education Act 1998. This means the recognition of the patron is an element of the recognition of the particular school and is not a stand-alone process.

Applications for recognition of two primary schools were received in January 2006 from County Clare Vocational Education Committee. In response the VEC was advised the applications did not comply with the established and published application procedure because it had not made an initial notification of intention to apply for recognition by 20 September 2005, the first key step under the procedures. My role in the procedure is to consider the report made to me by the new school advisory committee at the end of the process on all valid applications considered by it. It is, therefore, appropriate that I do not comment on any potential applications.

VECs have traditionally acted as patron in respect of post-primary school provision either on a stand-alone basis or as a partner in the State-initiated community and comprehensive sector. Any involvement in the primary sector would be a new departure.

I have not ruled out that there may be circumstances where the VEC system will have a role to play in primary education provision. I am conscious of the challenges that lie ahead in primary school provision, given the changing demographics and increasing cultural diversity in society.

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Will the Minister clarify that there is no problem in principle with a VEC becoming patron of a primary school? The two schools in County Clare in question wanted the patronage represented by the ethos of the VECs. I am sure the Minister of State, Deputy de Valera, is interested in this matter. Is the Minister open to new types of patronage for primary schools?

Deputy Burton's Dublin West constituency has a problem where more than 200 children will not have school places at junior infant level in September. Nobody appears to want to establish a school for these children. Does the Minister believe she has a role under the constitutional right to education and section 7 of the Education Act 1998 to ensure school places for those 200 children in question and others in similar situations?

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I am conscious of the increase in the population size and its cultural diversity. We need to have an approach that is adaptable to ensure primary school provision. Although the figure of 200 in the west Dublin area is overstated, I accept there is an issue in the area. The Minister of State, Deputy Brian Lenihan, is working on a resolution.

Whereas, we have a situation of having historical education providers, in recent years new providers have come forward such as Educate Together, Gaelscoileanna and the two Muslim schools. I will always aim to ensure school provision, the accommodation of difference and diversity and tolerance across the system. I am open to new methods of achieving this, not only in providing numbers but also patronage with proper structures and boards of management to ensure quality.

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Does the Minister have a problem with the principle of VECs becoming patrons of primary schools?

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Under the Education Act 1998, VECs are not precluded from doing so. Legally there is no difficulty and there is no problem with the principle.

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Will the Minister give an assurance that there will be school places for the 200 children in the west Dublin area in September?

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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We are actively seeking a resolution to this problem. It is not a case of bad planning. Many apartments were built in the area in which, unusually, families of school-going children live. Normally, one would have anticipated that younger couples or individuals would live in them. For various reasons, such as immigration, these apartments were populated by whole families with children who need school places.