Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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253. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools that applied for co-education in 2022 and in 2023; the number of schools that were successful, providing details of the names of the schools deemed successful and those deemed unsuccessful; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43382/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware, the decision-making authority in respect of the status of existing schools, including whether they are single or mixed gender, belongs to the Patron, subject to the agreement of my Department.

New schools are established by my Department to meet demographic need and, generally, such new school provision (primary and post-primary) is mixed gender in nature. Co-educational schools provide greater flexibility than single sex schools in terms of meeting demographic and school accommodation requirements in an area. Single-gender provision may, however, be made if there is an identified imbalance between the capacities of single-gender schools in the area.

In relation to existing schools the decision making authority for a change of status belongs to the Patron and this is subject to the agreement of my Department. Any proposal to change the status of a school must involve consultation with all of the relevant stakeholders, parents, teachers, students and local communities and follow decisions taken at local level.

The number of schools that have applied for a change to co-educational status in 2022 and in 2023 is as follows: 17 primary schools and 9 post primary schools.

The attached schools were approved a change in status to co-education in the period 2022 and 2023 with two applications currently under assessment. I can confirm that no school was refused approval to change to co-educational status in the period 2022 to 2023.