Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 1457: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason, when a school's patron changes, it loses all recognition with his Department; the procedures that exist to deal with transferring patronage of a school from one patron to another; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48091/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Education Act of 1998 recognises the role of patrons in the ownership and management of schools in Ireland. The patron has ultimate responsibility for the school ethos, the appointment of the board of management, financial and legal matters and the supervision of staff appointments in accordance with Department regulations. Patrons generally discharge their responsibilities in close consultation with boards of management and other interested parties involved in the schools.

Generally, my Department would not withdraw recognition from a recognised school unless it was deemed that the school was no longer required to serve the needs of a particular area. Where two or more schools amalgamate to form a new school, recognition is withdrawn from the amalgamating schools and the new school, with the appropriate Patron, is recognised as a new entity. In the event of a Patron withdrawing from a particular school, necessitating a change in patron, the school would continue to operate should it be required to serve the needs of that area. My Department would enter into discussions with that Patron and with other established Patron bodies to identify a suitable patron for the school. However, the school would not lose its recognition by the Department in such circumstances.