John Paul O'Shea (Cork North-West, Fine Gael)
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147. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for a breakdown of all primary school provision, per county, for the years 2020–2025, including patronage, co-education and Irish-medium provision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64328/25]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Please find attached requested information.

Data provided is for academic years 2020-21 to 2024-25, this being the latest final enrolment data available.

Patron data is provided for academic year 2023-2024 on, this being the first year this data was published.

The school patron is the person/body recognised as such by the Minister for Education in accordance with section 8 of the Education Act, 1998. For the purposes of Section 8 a trustee or Trust can also be a patron.

This is the preferred legal structure of some of the religious orders that up until recently were school patrons in their own right. The Trust conducts the legal and financial role that was previously performed by the individual congregations.

A school patron appoints the board of management to manage the operation of a school under its patronage. The patron determines the ethos and characteristic spirit of the school. Religious education or instruction may be provided at the school in line with its ethos. Patron responsibilities are set out in law under the 1998 Education Act.

Trusteeship can also relate to the ownership of the school property as opposed to the running of the school operating from the property. Most Diocesan school properties are either owned on behalf of the Dioceses in the name of the Dioceses Bishop or Archbishop or are in the ownership of a Diocesan Trust controlled by trustees appointed by the Catholic patron including the local Bishop.