Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 270: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to change the policy in relation to Gaelscoileanna; and if so, the policy changes that this might include; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24884/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The standardisation of the staffing schedule for Gaelscoileanna so that it is the same as that which applies to primary schools generally was one of a number of measures introduced in Budget 2011 by the previous government to control and reduce teacher numbers. These changes came into effect from September 2011. Given the financial constraints in which this country now finds itself, it is not possible to reverse these changes. My announcement in June 2011 outlined new arrangements for the establishment of new primary schools. The key elements that apply to the establishment of a new primary school are the demographics of the area must support the need for the establishment of a new school (or where meeting the demographics through the extension of existing schools would leave an unmet demand for diversity of patronage) and if the demographics require the establishment of a school, then the process for the selection of the type of school should allow for different patrons/bodies to be considered as the patron of the new school. Details of the new arrangements for patronage of new schools and the criteria for deciding on patronage of these new schools are available on my Department's website, www.education.ie