Holly Cairns (Cork South-West, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

246. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the timeline for the completion of the reconfiguration survey among parents regarding their preferences on education and school patronage; if he will provide a further timeline for when results of this survey will be shared with the relevant groups; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8884/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Programme for Government commits to seeking to increase choice for parents by ensuring that families can access both multi/non-denominational and faith based education.

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 Schools Reconfiguration for diversity process, supporting transfers of schools to multi-denominational patrons in response to the wishes of local communities, has been developed in order to accelerate the delivery of multi-denominational schools. When a school transfers from the patronage of one patron to another, the school remains open with the same roll number and operating from the same school property. All state-funded primary schools follow a common national curriculum and are subject to the same Department rules and regulations.

Given the importance of increasing choice for parents, I intend to launch a survey of primary school communities in the coming months. This survey will ensure we have a greater picture as to what our plans need to be into the future. It is planned that the survey will ask parents for their preferences on important aspects of school provision and choice, including demand for a multi-denominational ethos.

The results of the survey will help us plan how we provide education at primary level into the future. Further details regarding the survey will be announced in due course.