Written answers
Tuesday, 9 April 2024
Department of Education and Skills
Schools Amalgamation
Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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432. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the engagement to date with schools (details supplied) regarding amalgamation and the provision of a co-educational offering; if she will review the options for 2nd level facilities in the catchment, in the interest of pupils, their subject choices, and the maximisation in the use of educational facilities funded by the local community and the Exchequer; if consideration has been given to options for coordination in advance of approving any request from individual schools boards of management; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14057/24]
Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to advise the Deputy, that the decision-making authority for any amalgamation is the patron/trustees of the schools concerned and it is open to any patron to submit proposals to the Department for consideration.
Any proposed change involves extensive consultation at local level and must be well planned and managed in a manner that accommodates the interests of students, parents, teachers, local communities and contributes to an inclusive education system.
The Patron and relevant stakeholders are also advised to consider the implications that any amalgamation proposal may have on factors such as school accommodation, funding, staffing and school transport so that an informed decision can be made.
My Department has not received applications for amalgamation from either school referenced above. However, my Department has received an application from the patron/trustees of Scoil Muire gan Smal requesting approval of change of status from all girls to co-educational. This request for change of status is currently under review. When a decision is made it will be notified to the school directly.
As the Deputy may be aware, in order to plan for school place needs, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and utilises a Geographical Information System to anticipate school place demand. Information from a range of sources, including Child Benefit data, school enrolment data and information on residential development activity is used for this purpose. Additionally, Project Ireland 2040 population and housing targets inform my Department's projections of school place requirements.
There are currently a number of active projects at post primary level for the schools outlined above, including an extension and refurbishment project for Scoil Muire gan Smal which is currently at Stage 4 and an extension project for Roscommon CBS which is at Stage 1.
The Capital Programme details the school projects that are being progressed under Project Ireland 2040. The current status of large-scale projects being delivered under Project Ireland 2040, may be viewed on my Department's website at www.gov.ie and this information is updated regularly. In addition, a list of large-scale projects completed from 2010 to date may also be viewed on the website.
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