Written answers

Tuesday, 15 May 2018

Department of Education and Skills

School Patronage

Photo of Catherine MartinCatherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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270. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the lack of patronage diversity at second level in the Cabra, Phibsborough and Dublin 7 school planning area particularly for parents that seek a non-denominational education for their children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21142/18]

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, I announced plans for the establishment of 42 new schools over the next four years (2019 to 2022). This announcement follows nationwide demographic exercises carried out by my Department into the future need for primary and post-primary schools across the country and the 4-year horizon will enable increased lead-in times for planning and delivery of the necessary infrastructure.

While the announcement did not include a new post-primary school for the Cabra-Phibsborough-D7 school planning area, a new 1,000 pupil post-primary school was announced to open in 2022 in the adjacent Drumcondra-Marino-Dublin 1 school planning area. A patronage process is run after it has been decided, based on demographic analysis, that a new school is required. This patronage process is open to all patron bodies and prospective patrons. Parental preferences for each patron, from parents of children who reside in the school planning areas concerned, together with the extent of diversity currently available in these areas, are key to decisions in relation to the outcome of this process.

The Cabra-Phibsborough-Dublin 7 school planning area is currently served by 8 post-primary schools, including Cabra Community College which can bring significant existing capacity at post-primary level to this school planning area.

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