Máire Hoctor (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)

I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Education and Science. I thank the Senator for raising the matter as it affords me the opportunity to outline to the Seanad the current issues surrounding recognition and patronage in general and the position regarding the request from Educate Together to become a patron of second level schools in particular.

The Department of Education and Science is examining the application from Educate Together in the context of second level education, the Education Act and the Department of Education and Science regulations on patronage at second level. Section 6 of the Education Act 1998 sets out the objectives of the Act, one of which is "to promote the right of parents to send their children to a school of the parents' choice having regard to the rights of patrons and the effective and efficient use of resources". The Act also sets out the functions of the Minister. Section 7 provides that in carrying out those functions the Minister will have regard to the available resources and to the need to reflect the diversity of educational services provided in the State. Education legislation therefore requires that the diversity of educational provision in the State is taken account of, and the right of parents to send their children to a school of their choice is respected within the context of available resources.

In recent times, the rapid pace of social and demographic change in Ireland is reflected in a radically altered and more diverse society from which our school communities are drawn. Added to this, it is expected that enrolments at second level will increase significantly from the 2007 enrolment of 335,126 pupils. As the Senator will be aware, a new model of primary school patronage is being piloted in response to changing societal circumstances. The pilot primary community schools, which opened in September 2008 and which come under the patronage of County Dublin VEC, aim to provide education for diverse denominational groups, reflecting parental choice and based on an ethos of inclusion and respect for children of all faiths and none.

This new primary model provides a valuable new option in ensuring that our school system is responsive to parental choice. In ensuring that the range of patronage models, new and existing, collectively achieve this, it is important to build on ongoing dialogue with the education partners in encouraging a wider public discussion of the issues involved. In this context, the Minister for Education and Science recently announced a review of the procedures for the establishment of new primary schools under the Commission on School Accommodation. The Minister established a technical working group under the commission to undertake a full review of the criteria and procedures for the recognition of new primary schools. This working group is meeting this week and will report to the steering group under the Commission on School Accommodation. It is expected that the review of procedures for recognising primary schools will be completed and the revised arrangements will be in place within a two-year timeframe.

In the interim it is not proposed to recognise any new schools except in areas where the increases in pupil numbers cannot be catered for within existing schools and which require the provision of new schools. This means that new schools will not be established for reasons not related to demographic growth in areas where there is already sufficient school accommodation or where increases can be catered for by extending existing school accommodation. It is proposed that locations where new schools are required for the coming years will be identified by the Department of Education and Science and the details circulated to all existing patron bodies.

Given the current climate of an increasing student population and moves towards diversity in education, it is also timely to examine the broad issues of patronage at second level. The Department of Education and Science is, therefore, considering a number of issues relating to the recognition process for second level schools. The application from Educate Together to become a patron body at second level will be considered within this context. Once again, I thank the Senator for providing the opportunity to address the House on this matter.