Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will outline the progress being made on the white paper on patronage of schools; when it will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3815/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The Deputy will be aware that as part of my response to the Patronage Forum Advisory Group Report, I indicated that I would issue a call for submissions on the findings and recommendations in the report on promoting greater inclusiveness in primary schools and that a leaflet for parents would be developed in consultation with the National Parents Council Primary. Work has been ongoing on developing the leaflet and a call for submissions document and they are expected to issue in Spring 2013. The Advisory Group recommendations in this area, and the submissions received, will inform the development of a White Paper in the coming months.

Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide details of the method of surveying local communities on the issue of patronage of schools; the way the surveys were conducted; the persons eligible to participate; the way invitations were issued and the level of engagement to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3816/13]

Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the opinions expressed in the surveys on school patronage will conclusively direct his policy or if the results will be used to inform further discussions on patronage pending further engagement with local communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3817/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 299 and 300 together.

This survey initiative follows on from the recommendations of the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector. Pilot surveys on primary school patronage were conducted late last year in five areas: Arklow, Castlebar, Tramore, Trim and Whitehall (including Kilmore West & Beaumont). A report on the pilot surveys is available on my Department's website. The surveys are being conducted mainly through an on-line facility while paper survey forms are also available for parents in the areas concerned. The current surveys commenced on January 14th and will run to February 8th and during this time a free phone help line is available. The surveys are open to parents or guardians of all children aged 0 to 12 years old in those areas.

Information leaflets have been circulated to all primary schools in the relevant areas and also to pre-school organisations. A comprehensive information campaign is being undertaken in each of the areas including a leaflet drop to every household giving details of the surveys, and there is advertising on local radio and newspapers to raise parental awareness of the surveys. A detailed analysis of parental preferences submitted to the surveys will be conducted after the closing date. The survey process is being overseen by the independent New Schools Establishment Group (NSEG). The Department will publish detailed reports on the survey outcomes. These reports will be sent to Catholic patrons for their response in consultation with each local community.

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a town (details supplied) in County Cork was chosen as one of the locations in which parents of children aged 0 - 12 years are being asked to complete an online survey; if he will explain the general criteria used in selecting the locations; if he will state the number of locations that were chosen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3821/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The following criteria were applied in selecting locations for the parental surveys:

1. Areas with a population of greater than 5,000 persons and less than 20,000 persons, as per the 2011 Census.

2. Areas that did not experience greater than 20% growth in the inter-censal period 2006-2011 and where the establishment of new schools is unlikely to emerge until at least 2016.

3. Areas that have at least three primary schools within a 2km range of the CSO Town Boundary.

4. Areas where school provision is predominantly Catholic or where there is very limited diversity of provision at present.

A total of 44 areas met the criteria outlined above and surveys were undertaken in five of those areas on a pilot basis late last year. Surveys are currently being conducted in thirty eight remaining areas. One area that met the criteria is not being surveyed as diversity of school patronage is already being provided in that area.