emmet_stagg_patronage_dl_celbridge_2392

EMMET STAGG PATRONAGE DL CELBRIDGE 2392_DL 24/01/2013 12:07 Page

Emmet Stagg TD Dรกil ร ireann, Kildare Street, Dublin 2.

Telephone: 01 6183013 / 618 3797 E-mail: emmet.stagg@oireachtas.ie Website: labour.ie/emmetstagg

Working with Emmet Stagg TD

CLLR. KEVIN BYRNE 086 6009449 byrnekevin1@eircom.net

NESSA CHILDERS MEP 01 296 2263 nessa.childers@europarl.europa.eu

EMMET STAGG PATRONAGE DL CELBRIDGE 2392_DL 24/01/2013 12:07 Page

LABOUR DRIVING EDUCATION REFORM PRIMARY SCHOOL PATRONAGE SURVEY IN YOUR AREA Emmet Stagg TD has welcomed the move by Minister Ruairi Quinn, that he is to roll out the patronage on primary schools survey in 38 new areas across the country including Celbridge, Co. Kildare.

Parents of all children aged 0 to 12 years in 38 areas across Ireland are being asked by the Minister for Education what patrons they would like to see operating their local primary schools.

HOW TO TAKE PART IN THIS SURVEY: 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, including Celbridge, 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.

Leaflets will be distributed locally to inform people of this survey, and a free helpline (1800 303621) is also on hand to help anyone with difficulties completing the survey.

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THIS SURVEY? 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 will ask existing patrons to come up with a plan to transfer some schools to other patron bodies.

“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, multidenominational, all-Irish or other,” said Emmet Stagg.

"I would like to commend Minister Quinn on continuing to deliver on Labour's reform agenda. Taking just a couple of minutes to complete, a parent or guardian has the opportunity to make a profound difference to our educational landscape. I urge all parents and guardians to engage with this process and complete the survey.”

Parents and guardians of all 0 to 12 year olds in the 38 towns have from now until the 8th of February to complete the survey at www.education.ie.

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