Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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84. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason his Department has not facilitated the development of a full stream educate together school in Trim, County Meath (details supplied). [3821/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy may be aware, the report of the Advisory Group to the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector recommended that demand for patronage diversity should be met in areas of stable population by divesting patronage of existing schools where there is evidence of parental demand for change.

In 2012/13, my Department undertook surveys of parental preferences in 44 areas of stable population to establish the level of demand for a wider choice in the patronage of primary schools. Sufficient demand emerged in 28 areas, including the area referred to by the Deputy, and intensive consultations followed with the main Catholic patrons in each of these areas to discuss divesting options. 

It is important that school size is monitored and that a balance is preserved among all schools in school planning areas to ensure that one school is not expanding at the expense of another school, particularly in areas of stable population.  However, overall demographic need in these areas will continue to be kept under review.