Dept of Education Splitting Up families

Minister Richard Bruton addressed the Seanad today  and I requested that he provide some much needed clarity to parents on the splitting up of their children to separate schools because of Department of Education imposed quotas on Educate Together Schools.

While my question related to Castlebar Educate Together National School, I am aware of difficulties in Tuam, Tramore, New Ross and Trim.

All five schools have demonstrated pre-enrolment numbers for 2018/19 to accommodate a full stream and have expressed frustration and anger at the prescribed barriers to further development being applied by the Department of Education so late in the school year.

These schools never opened to remain as half stream schools. Indeed, some opened with more them 13 students: Castlebar ETNS and New Ross ETNS.

At no stage in the establishment of any of the 5 schools currently in this situation, did the Department of Education suggest to Educate Together that they would remain as ‘half-stream and non-developing schools’ as was outlined in recent correspondence.

This correspondence appears to directly contradict the agreed terms upon which these schools opened.

At no time did the Department of Education say that numbers were capped at 13 – this was always a minimum requirement.

The decision now means parents are faced with splitting up their families. One parent I spoke to this morning has two children. One started in Educate Together last year and has a thoroughly enjoyable experience.bHis second child is due to start in September and has been told there won’t be a place if the numbers are restricted. This just doesn’t make sense.

The uncertainty attached to carrying out a review will obviously influence the decision of parents as to where to send their children for the next school year.

In a letter from the Department of Education it was stated that national demographic exercises are to be carried out at primary and post primary level to identify areas of demographic growth. This has already been done and submitted to the Department by the Educate Together Schools. So why would you seek to have the same work done again?

When is this duplicate report due to be completed and when will the recommendations be implemented?

It’s also a question about choice both for parents who want their children to attend a religious ethos school and those who prefer non-denominational educational setting.

Most of all, it’s about getting clarity for these parents. Without this clarity it is impossible for them to make the proper choices regarding their children’s education.

Minister in your programme for Government you stated “We need a dynamic and innovative education system that reflects the diversity of Twenty First Century Ireland. We will strengthen parental choice a diversity in our school system, reflecting the need in modern Ireland for new forms of multi-denominational and non-denominational education, while also safeguarding the right of parents to send their children to denominational schools that offer a distinct religious ethos, should they so wish’

I know that the relationship between Castlebar Educate Together and the other National Schools in the area is healthy, productive and inclusive.

These schools were set up in urban areas where there will be no effect on local existing schools.

The idea that the State must intervene and force parents to choose a religious education in order to “preserve a balance among all schools in an area and to ensure that one school is not expanding at the expense of another” is not the type of rationale one would expect in a democratic Republic.  IS IT?

In Article 42 our Constitution states: “The State shall not oblige parents in violation of their conscience and lawful preference to send their children to schools established by the State, or to any particular type of school designated by the State.” On legal grounds, therefore, these restrictions need to be lifted with immediate effect and buildings provided to allow these schools to cater for the growing demand that exists for this inclusive school model.