John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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97. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if patronage for a new second-level school in an area (details supplied) has been awarded; if not, when it will be awarded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40695/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, I recently announced the opening of 42 new schools over the next 4 years.  This announcement followed nationwide demographic exercises carried out by my Department into the current and future need for primary and post-primary school places across the country, and included provision for a new 1,000 pupil post primary school to serve Citywest/Saggart (Tallaght & Newcastle_Rathcoole school planning areas) as a Regional Solution to open in September 2020. This announcement follows nationwide, demographic exercises carried out by my Department into the future need for primary and post-primary schools across the country. 

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 new Online Patronage Process System (OPPS) has been developed to provide objective information to all parents and guardians which will allow them to make an informed choice in expressing a preference for their preferred model of patronage for their child’s education.

The patronage process for new schools is overseen by an external independent advisory group, the New Schools Establishment Group (NSEG). Following their consideration of my Department’s assessment reports, the NSEG will submit a report with recommendations to me for consideration and final decision. The assessment reports and the NSEG recommendations for all such patronage processes will be made available on my Department's website.

The patronage process commenced in June 2018 for the four new post-primary schools to be established in 2019 to serve the following school planning areas: 

- Donaghmede - Howth - D13 (Belmayne/Clongriffin area)

- Galway City and Oranmore (Regional Solution)

- Laytown and Drogheda (Regional Solution)

- Wicklow

The patronage process for the remaining schools, including the new post-primary school referred to by the Deputy, will also be run at a later date, significantly ahead of their due opening. Updates in relation to further patronage processes will be announced on the OPPS website () and my Department’s website ().