Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)

The changing shape of our society is placing new and complex demands on our education system as it responds to the diverse needs of our communities. The Government is acutely aware of this challenge.

Our model of school patronage has served us successfully for many generations. We are indebted to the churches and, in more recent times, the newer patronage bodies for their leadership in creating and sustaining a national network of primary schools that have provided opportunities for generations of children, laid the roots for social cohesion and formed the core of our collective identity and sense of civic community and belonging. As the largest patronage body at primary level, the Catholic church will continue to play a significant role in education provision into the future. Nevertheless, the significant changes that have taken place in society in recent years have required a collective review of our approach to school provision. The church has itself made an important contribution to this review in its very considered commentary on the need for a greater plurality of provision to respond effectively to these changes.

The rapid growth of the Educate Together and gaelscoil sectors has been an important part of the response to changing circumstances. These schools have introduced a new level of choice for parents in many areas. There are now 56 Educate Together schools, 12 of which opened this September. However, the new social realities have also created a new form of demand. A single denominational approach cannot meet the full range of community needs where parents have a clear wish for particular forms of religious education or faith formation to be provided within the school setting during the school day.

The Government's decision to establish a new model of patronage at primary level seeks to meet the need for a new plurality of education provision within the framework of a single school setting. This model of community national schooling is being piloted in two locations in Dublin 15 from September 2008. Scoil Ghráinne in Phibblestown and Scoil Choilm in Porterstown are providing a distinctive new choice alongside the existing patron body schools. These schools are characterised by an ethos of inclusion, equality and harmony, where each child and member of the school community is valued and treated with respect. That ethos involves welcoming, valuing and respecting children from a wide spectrum of religious and non-religious backgrounds. Families of all faiths and none are welcome and all will be supported through the curricula offered in the schools. Religious diversity will be acknowledged and celebrated in an atmosphere of inclusiveness rather than avoided. The schools will operate in a spirit of partnership among patrons, teachers, students, parents and the wider community served by the school.

The pilot phase provides an important learning opportunity and will enable informed decisions on the possible roll-out of this new model of patronage in other locations. As the Senator may be aware, the Minister recently announced a full review of the criteria and procedures for the recognition of new primary schools. I want to ensure that the policies and procedures for establishing new schools are brought fully up to date and that they will be appropriate to the significant increase in the number of primary school pupils we expect over the next five to ten years.

The Minister is committed to ensuring that the Department of Education and Science has a transparent and robust system for recognising new primary schools, which will be appropriate for the changing circumstances of the country, and looks forward to consulting with patron bodies, education partners and other interested parties as part of this review process. The approach of the new community national schools is to celebrate religious diversity in an atmosphere of inclusiveness. The Minister is also committed to this approach and the Senator can be assured it will be at the centre of education policy in this area.