Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

145. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the closing date for expressions of interest from patrons for a new school (details supplied); when thereafter a decision will be announced for the patronage of the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35633/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The school to which the Deputy refers was included in the announcement of November 2015 of new schools to be established by my Department in 2017 and 2018.

When it is decided that a new school is required, my Department runs a separate patronage process to decide who will operate the school. The criteria used in relation to patronage of the new school place particular emphasis on parental demand for plurality and diversity of patronage, with parental preferences from the area to be served being central to the process. In this regard, patrons and prospective patrons must collect and demonstrate evidence of parental demand from the area to be served for the model of provision proposed as part of their application under the process. It is hoped to invite applications for the patronage of these new primary schools in the coming weeks.  This invitation will be posted on my Departments website The closing date for receipt of completed applications is approximately four to six weeks from the date the invitation issues. 

The assessment stage of the process is rigorous and detailed.  Once completed, draft assessment reports will be forwarded for the consideration of the New Schools Establishment Group (NSEG), which is an external independent advisory group set up to oversee the process.  Following their consideration, the NSEG will submit a report with recommendations to me for consideration and final decision.  I will then announce who the successful patron of each of the four schools will be.  The assessment reports and the NSEG recommendations will be available on my Department's website following the announcement..