Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 563: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if vocational education committees have power to establish and maintain national or primary schools, or to become patrons of national or primary schools; if not, if she proposes to change the law to enable them to perform such functions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11318/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I announced earlier this year my intention to introduce a new additional model of primary school patronage on a pilot basis in Diswellstown, Dublin using the administrative framework of the County Dublin Vocational Education Committee. I have decided as a matter of policy that no vocational education committee (with the exception of the aforementioned pilot community primary school project) shall act as a patron in respect of a primary school or otherwise, establish or maintain a primary school until further notice. therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred under section 14 of the Vocational Education (Amendment) Act 2001, I have directed VECs not to establish or maintain primary schools and not to seek recognition of primary schools or recognition as Patrons pursuant to the provisions of the Education Act 1998 until further notice or direction. The Department will begin a process of consultation with the relevant education partners to explore the detailed implementation measures that will be needed to be put in place prior to the opening of the proposed new school.