Suirbhéanna maidir le pátrúnacht bunscoile ar oscailt i 38 ceantar trasna na tíre
Eanáir 14, 2013
Minister Quinn asks parents to indicate which patron bodies they would like to see running primary schools in their area.
Parents of all children aged 0 to 12 years in 38 areas across Ireland are being asked by the Minister for Education and Skills what patrons they would like to see operating their local primary schools.
Surveys are going live today (Monday 14th January) and are an expansion of pilot surveys on primary school patronage which were conducted late last year in five towns.
The survey can be accessed on line via www.education.ie and parents or guardians of primary school going children and 0 to 5 year olds in the 38 towns and suburbs (list below) are being urged to fill it in. They will need to have their PPS number in order to complete the survey; however, these details are only being used for verification purposes.
The aim of the survey is to establish the level of demand from parents for diversity of school patronage in each of the towns. At present, some 96% of primary schools are under church patronage, with more than 90% or approximately 3,000 schools under the remit of the Catholic Church. This survey initiative follows on from the recommendations of the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary sector.
If parents indicate they would like a wider choice of patron, then the Department of Education and Skills (DES) will ask existing patrons to come up with a plan to transfer some schools to other patron bodies.
“This is an historic opportunity for parents to have a real say in the type of school they wish to send their children to, be it denominational, multi-denominational, all-Irish or other,” said Minister Ruairí Quinn T.D.
“In the 38 towns and suburbs where the surveys are taking place, there is little prospect of any new schools opening as the population remains stable and there is enough capacity within existing schools. However, if parents demonstrate through this survey that they want a greater choice of primary school then we will work with existing patrons to transfer patronage to ensure they can send their children to a school which best reflects their own ethos and beliefs.”
The bodies which have indicated that they would like to become patrons of any divested schools in the identified areas are the VECs, An Foras Patrúnachta, Educate Together, and in a small number of areas the National Learning Network and the Redeemed Christian Church of God.
Kildare Town has been removed from the original list of areas to be surveyed, following consultation with patrons. The town already has an Educate Together school, opened in September 2011. There was also a recommendation to establish an all-Irish school in the town in coming years. Since then, an Foras Patrúnachta has produced sufficient evidence of demand for an all Irish school in Kildare and the establishment of a Gaelscoil will commence in September 2013.
A code of conduct has been worked out in consultation with the patron bodies which will limit expenditure on the provision of information. The code is designed to ensure the surveys are conducted in a reasonable manner, avoiding contentious commentary.
A comprehensive information campaign by the DES in each of the areas begins today and will include a leaflet drop to every household giving details of the survey and advertising on local radio and newspapers. A free helpline is also available in the Department for anyone who has any difficulties in completing the survey: 1800 303621.
The helpline will be open from 9.30 to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm, Monday to Friday. Paper based versions of the survey are also available on request.
The survey process will be overseen by the independent New Schools Establishment Group. The Department will publish detailed reports on the survey outcomes.
Parents and guardians of all 0 to 12 year olds in the 38 towns have from now until the 8th of February to complete the survey at www.education.ie.
List of 38 areas to be surveyed
- Ballina
- Ballinasloe
- Ballyfermot/ Chapelizod/ Palmerstown/ Cherry Orchard
- Bandon
- Birr
- Buncrana
- Carrick-on-Suir
- Carrigaline
- Celbridge
- Clonmel
- Cobh
- Dublin 6
- Dungarvan
- Edenderry
- Enniscorthy
- Fermoy
- Kells (Ceanannas)
- Killarney
- Leixlip
- Longford
- Loughrea
- Malahide
- Monaghan
- Nenagh
- New Ross
- Passage West
- Portmarnock
- Roscommon
- Roscrea
- Rush
- Shannon
- Skerries
- Thurles
- Tipperary
- Tuam
- Westport
- Wicklow
- Youghal
There are 311 primary schools in the 38 areas.
