Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 94: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the practical steps taken to arrange for the one day conference on governance in the primary school system due to be held in the Royal Hospital Kilmainham; the number expected to be invited; the speakers who will be selected; the chairperson of same; the reporting arrangements for the media; if it will be open to the public; the role of Houses of the Oireachtas participation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19710/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Work is continuing on the practical arrangements for the one day Conference that will be held on 27 June 2008 in the Royal Hospital Kilmainham. It is envisaged that the conference will accommodate approximately 200 invited delegates. These will include representatives of the main patron bodies, management bodies, the wider primary education partners and other interested parties. I can confirm that it is also my intention to invite each of the Opposition Education spokespersons to attend. The conference will be open to members of the media. I am currently working with my officials to finalise the detailed practical arrangements for the day, including the detail of speakers and attendance. These arrangements are at an advanced stage and the details will be made public as soon as all the relevant speakers and panellists have been confirmed.

The format for the day will aim to encourage a high degree of dialogue and interaction on the important issues under consideration. As the Deputy is aware, the conference will consider the implications of new societal diversity on the future organisation of primary schools. The conference will provide an opportunity for each of the main patron bodies to outline their vision of how the system needs to collectively evolve to respond to the changing circumstances. Discussions will focus on the particular challenges of ethos and inclusion for patron bodies, under the existing patronage models as well as under the new patronage model to be piloted in September 2008. The long term challenges of organising and developing our system of school governance to accommodate new parental demands and aspirations will be subject to consideration. The Conference will deal with a range of associated issues such as the challenges of capacity constraints, the provision of choice for parents, ensuring whole community inclusion in our schools as well as the implications of societal change on enrolment policies and approaches to the teaching of religion in multi-faith environments.

Following opening key-note speeches to establish the context for the discussion, each of the main patron bodies will be invited to present their perspectives on the evolving governance challenge. This will be followed by structured open forum discussion and debate around the relevant issues, involving the speakers from the main patron bodies, an extended panel of participants and the wider audience. This discussion will be led by an independent chair. I am personally looking forward to what will be a very valuable opportunity for engaging with all of the relevant stakeholders on the very important issues at stake for the future of our primary education system.