Survey closes this Friday, 8th February
The Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn TD, is calling on parents in Killarney to complete the survey on primary school patronage before the deadline this Friday, 8th February.
Last month, parents of all children aged 0 to 12 years in 38 areas across Ireland were asked by the Minister what patrons they would like to see operating their local primary schools.
As part of this, parents in Killarney are being asked for their views.
The surveys began on 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 will ask existing patrons to come up with a plan to transfer some schools to other patron bodies.
“I am urging all eligible parents in Killarney to make sure that their voices are heard by taking part in these surveys”, said the Minister.
“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.”
The bodies which have indicated that they would like to become patrons of any divested schools in Killarney are the An Foras Patrúnachta, Educate Together and Kerry Education Service.
The current patron is the Catholic Bishop of Kerry.
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.
ENDS
List of 38 areas to be surveyed[1]
Ballina
Ballinasloe
Ballyfermot/ Chapelizod/ Palmerstown/ Cherry Orchard
Bandon
Birr
Buncrana
Carrick-on-Suir
Carrigaline
Celbridge
Clonmel
Cobh
Dublin6
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.