Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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474. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on the report on the surveys regarding parental preferences on primary school patronage; if locations have been considered; if an area (details supplied) will be considered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24861/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Palmerstown/Ballyfermot/Chapelizod/Cherry Orchard was one of 43 areas surveyed as part of the patronage divesting process in 2013. The outcome was that there was sufficient parental demand for a multi-denominational school in this area.

I recently announced that arrangements are being put in place in a number of towns and areas of cities that have no multi-denominational primary schools to identify potential schools and to engage with school authorities, school staff and the school communities with a view to agreeing on a transfer of patronage and change of ethos, where there is sufficient demand for this.

The Council for Education of the Irish Episcopal Conference (representing the Catholic patrons) and relevant Bishops have confirmed their willingness to engage and co-operate fully with the Department in seeking to facilitate a more diverse school patronage in these towns and cities. The pilot areas are:

*parts of these cities

As part of this process, the facilitator in each area, along with the relevant patron/patron representative will review data on the schools in the area and will engage directly with the relevant school authorities to progress the initiative at a local level. The process will be shaped by the stage (if any) of consideration of reconfiguration in the area concerned and whether any schools have already been identified or have opted-in at this point.