Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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179. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will carry out an independent review of the operation of the community national school model; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16924/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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In 2008, a new model of primary school provision was established on a pilot basis.This pilot was in response to increased demand for parental choice in the patronage of primary schools. The Community National School (CNS) model was initially piloted in two schools and has since expanded to a total of eleven schools.

CNSs are multi-denominational schools and cater for the diversity present within the community in a single school setting, rather than in more than one school.

The operation of Community National Schools, like all other recognised schools, is subject to ongoing inspection and evaluation. My Department's school inspectorate inspects the schools on an ongoing basis and this has included a Whole School Evaluation in certain cases. The findings of such Whole School Evaluations are published on my Department's website. In addition, the schools all engage in school self-evaluation, the findings of which are published on school websites.