Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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233. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when the result of the recent patronage competition for secondary schools in County Dublin, Firhouse, Lucan, Swords, Carpenterstown, Castleknock, Malahide and Portmarnock will be announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32131/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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In April 2016 applications were invited for the patronage of nine new post-primary schools to be established in 2017 and 2018, including new 1,000 pupil post-primary schools to serve the areas of Firhouse; Lucan; Swords; Carpenterstown & Castleknock; and Malahide & Portmarnock. The closing date for receipt of applications for this process was 8 June 2016. Patrons submitted with their application a parental preference template in which parents have been requested to declare their preference for their child to be educated through that patron's school model and also their preference with regard to education through the medium of English or Irish.

The assessment process is detailed and rigorous and numerous applications have been received in respect of each of the nine proposed new post-primary schools.

The New Schools Establishment Group, an external independent advisory group set up to oversee the process, is meeting this week to consider the assessment reports. Following the Group's consideration, they will submit a report with recommendations to me for consideration and final decision. I will then announce who the successful patron of each school is. I expect to receive the Group's report within the next week.

The assessment reports and the recommendations of the NSEG will be available on my Department's website following the announcement.