Statement: Senator Bacik welcomes publication of Minister Quinn's action plan on changes to primary school patronage

STATEMENT BY SENATOR IVANA BACIK

Labour Party Seanad leader
Wednesday 20th June 2012

SENATOR BACIK WELCOMES PUBLICATION OF MINISTER QUINN'S ACTION PLAN ON CHANGES TO PRIMARY SCHOOL PATRONAGE

Senator Ivana Bacik today welcomed the publication of Minister for Education Ruairi Quinn's action plan, published in response to the Report of the Advisory Group to the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector.

Speaking during a matter that she has tabled on the adjournment of the Seanad this evening concerning the need for a new multi-denominational school in the Portobello area, Dublin 8, Senator Bacik will say:

“I am delighted that the Minister has accepted the recommendations of the Advisory Group, and really pleased to see that the Minister's action plan announced today sets out a clear timetable for the carrying out of transfer or divestment of patronage in primary schools, where required by parents in local communities.

“In Dublin 8, a clear and unchallengeable need for the provision of more multi-denominational school places has already been demonstrated. This area is one of the 44 areas designated by the Minister as requiring a survey of parental demand to establish whether greater diversity of patronage is required. However, we have already established the extent of parental demand in our area, through the existence and growth of a dynamic local parents' grouping with over 400 children now pre-enrolled for the Portobello Educate Together start-up group. We hope to see a new multi-denominational school established in our area by September 2013 in order to fill this clear and pressing expression of parental choice.”

ENDS