Mary Wallace (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 562: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the post primary school population numbers in each of the 33 vocational education committees; if he will provide separate statistics for each VEC; if he will distinguish between the schools under the VEC patronage and schools under other patronage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36705/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The statistical data sought by the Deputy in relation to post primary school population in each of the 33 VEC's are outlined in the following spreadsheet for the 2008-2009 school year. It also includes statistical data for the non VEC schools i.e voluntary secondary schools, community and comprehensive schools on a county by county basis for the same period.

The statistics are broken down into the following three categories - Mainstream, Post Leaving Certificate and Core VTOS. Mainstream includes Junior Certificate, Junior Certificate Schools Programme, Transition Year, Leaving Certificate, Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme, Leaving Certificate Applied and Repeat Leaving Certificate pupils.

As regards the management structure of schools in the various different sectors - secondary schools are privately owned and managed. The majority of them are conducted by religious communities and the remainder by boards of governors or by individuals. Vocational schools and community colleges are administered by vocational education committees which are statutory bodies set up under the Vocational Education Act 1930, as amended. Comprehensive schools are managed by a board of management representative of the diocesan religious authority, the vocational education committee of the area and the Minister for Education and Science. Community schools are managed by boards of management representative of local interests.