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13/12/2012
Parents Demand Greater Choice On Primary School Patronage
Surveys undertaken in five pilot areas on primary school patronage show that there is parental demand for a greater choice of patron in each town.
The surveys were conducted in Arklow, Castlebar, Tramore, Trim and Whitehall as part of the Minister for Education & Skills' response to the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary sector. These five areas were chosen to pilot the survey before it is extended to the balance of 44 towns identified following the Forum Report.
The surveys show that in the five areas Educate Together has emerged as the first choice of alternative patron. Each of the five towns already has an existing Gaelscoil, which is capable of accommodating the demand expressed for Irish language medium schools.
Publishing the Department's report on the five surveys to the New Schools Establishment Group, the body tasked with verifying the information, Minister Ruairí Quinn T.D. said: "Parents have been given a voice through this survey process to express a preference for the types of schools they want to send their children to. While many are happy with the schools already available in their area, there is a clear demand from others for greater choice.
"I will now ask the main patron in each area, the Catholic Bishop or Archbishop, to consider the re-configuration options open to him which would allow sufficient school accommodation to be made available to facilitate this choice."
The Minister is requesting each of the patrons to consult with their local school communities. The Department is requesting an interim response in three months and a final response in six months.
(CD/GK)
The surveys were conducted in Arklow, Castlebar, Tramore, Trim and Whitehall as part of the Minister for Education & Skills' response to the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary sector. These five areas were chosen to pilot the survey before it is extended to the balance of 44 towns identified following the Forum Report.
The surveys show that in the five areas Educate Together has emerged as the first choice of alternative patron. Each of the five towns already has an existing Gaelscoil, which is capable of accommodating the demand expressed for Irish language medium schools.
Publishing the Department's report on the five surveys to the New Schools Establishment Group, the body tasked with verifying the information, Minister Ruairí Quinn T.D. said: "Parents have been given a voice through this survey process to express a preference for the types of schools they want to send their children to. While many are happy with the schools already available in their area, there is a clear demand from others for greater choice.
"I will now ask the main patron in each area, the Catholic Bishop or Archbishop, to consider the re-configuration options open to him which would allow sufficient school accommodation to be made available to facilitate this choice."
The Minister is requesting each of the patrons to consult with their local school communities. The Department is requesting an interim response in three months and a final response in six months.
(CD/GK)
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