Primary school survey results
Jen Cummins seeks publication and discussion of the remaining primary-school survey results, noting strong parental support for denominational, English-medium and co-educational preferences. The Taoiseach says the survey will inform policy after further consultation.
The recently announced results of the primary school survey indicated some very interesting results. Sixty percent of parents in the denominational schools would like to retain their ethos and 73% of parents in single-sex schools wanted to move to a co-educational model. Eighty seven percent of parents with children in English-medium schools wanted those schools to retain that medium and not move to Irish. The results are very interesting but they are only part of the results. The results from the cohort of parents with children from age zero to school age have not come out, and neither have those of the educators who were able to fill in that information. They have not been published. What is the timeframe for publication?
Unfortunately, divestment is moving at nought miles per hour. The move to co-educational is very welcome. It is bringing us into the present as opposed to keeping us in the past. The result on the Gaeilge is a little disappointing. When will the results of the full survey be published and what process will be put in place to ensure divestment and other things move a little bit quicker?
Comment on this
I thank the Deputy very much for raising the issue. It is a very interesting survey which will inform policy development in time. There has to be significant consultation. I will talk to the Minister and ask her to perhaps engage with the Deputy on the next steps.
I did not quite get the point the Deputy made about Gaeilge. We will talk later.
Comment on this
A total of 87% want their schools to stay English-medium schools. Only a small number want to move to Gaeilge-medium schools.