Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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296. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide the schools scheduled for divestment, as of 2024, 2025 and 2026, in tabular form. [36325/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Programme for Government reflects the Government’s objective of continuing to expand the plurality of schools to reflect the full breadth of society. It sets out that “students of all religions and none should have access to education, regardless of their belief system”.

The Programme for Government commitments in this area include: To achieve the target of at least 400 multi-denominational primary schools by 2030, to improve parental choice; To expand and prioritise the transfer of viable schools to Community National Schools; and to work with communities to ensure the provision of clear, non-partisan information on the preparation for, and the consequences of, the divestment process and to respond to queries raised.

There are 172 primary schools with a multi-denominational or inter-denominational ethos.

For historical reasons, most primary schools are State-aided parish schools, with the local Bishop as patron. It is recognised, including by the Catholic patrons, that more diverse provision is required to cater for our changing society.

The Department of Education’s ‘Schools Reconfiguration for diversity process’ supports the transfer of schools from denominational patrons to multi-denominational patrons in response to the wishes of local school communities. This process has been developed in order to accelerate the delivery of multi-denominational schools.

A significant amount of work has been done by my Department on the scope, logistics and practical arrangements for a survey of primary school communities. It is intended that the online, school-specific survey will ask parents and guardians of children currently in primary school and parents and guardians of children who have not yet started primary school their preferences on important aspects of school provision and choice, including demand for a multi-denominational ethos. It is intended that school staff and Board of Management members will also have an opportunity to complete a survey.

The Government’s goal remains to establish a strong process, that has the support of patrons and local communities, and which will enable us to continue to increase the number of multi-denominational primary schools across the country.