Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 347: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of primary schools opened by vocational educational committees; if there are plans for vocational educational committees to open further schools or to transfer patronage of existing schools to the VECs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5992/10]

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

A new patronage model, under the aegis of County Dublin VEC is currently being piloted in two national schools - Scoil Choilim, Porterstown, County Dublin and Scoil Ghrainne, Phibblestown, Co. Dublin. Legislation which will allow vocational education committees to become involved in the provision of primary education is currently being drafted and it is expected that a Bill will be published during the current session.

My Department is currently consulting directly with patrons about specific areas where the establishment of new schools will be required and how emerging demands in these areas will be addressed. A review of procedures for establishment of new primary schools is being undertaken by the Commission on School Accommodation. Among the range of issues being considered is the issue of patronage including the criteria that must be met to become a patron and the circumstances where changes to patronage may be warranted.

Clearly, any implementation framework that is developed to facilitate the possible transfer of patronage would need to be planned and managed and it would be important in individual school cases for consultation to take place with all relevant stakeholders - parents, teachers and local communities. In order to fully evaluate the model in different settings, I want to extend the community national school pilot to a number of new locations in 2010. The addition of what is likely to be a limited number of further schools to the pilot will enhance the potential for identifying possible practical issues and trying out new solutions and will enable informed decisions to be made on the further roll-out of this new model of patronage in other locations in the future.