Surveys on Primary School Patronage Extended to 38 Schools
14th January 2013 | News
Parents of all children aged 0 to 12 years in 38 areas are being asked what patrons they would like to see operating their local primary schools. Surveys are going live today (Monday 14th January) and are an expansion of pilot surveys on primary school patronage which were conducted late last year in five towns.
The areas being surveyed will include schools up to 5kms from the town boundary. It will be important for schools to alert parents of children in these rural areas to participate in the process. [Kildare Town has been removed from the original list of areas to be surveyed, following consultation with patrons.] Parents will need their PPS number in order to complete the survey; however, the PPS details are only being used for verification purposes.
CPSMA suggests that staffs, boards and parishes should encourage parents to fill in the surveys, as there is only a 4 week period in which to participate.
The results of the pilot surveys were very satisfactory in demonstrating strong support for denominational education as well as support from a minority of parents for additional forms of patronage. As it can be difficult to reach parents of pre-school children any possible contact with them should be encouraged.
Coincidentally, Catholic Schools Week is being launched next Monday creating an opportunity to celebrate our Catholic schools.
The areas being surveyed to include schools up to 5 kms from the town boundary are :
| Ballina | Dungarvan | Passage West |
| Ballinasloe | Edenderry | Portmarnock |
| Ballyfermot/Chapelizod/ Palmerstown/Cherry Orchard |
Enniscorthy | Roscommon |
| Bandon | Fermoy | Roscrea |
| Birr | Kells (Ceannanas) | Rush |
| Buncrana | Killarney | Shannon |
| Carrick-On-Suir | Leixlip | Skerries |
| Carrigaline | Longford | Thurles |
| Celbridge | Loughrea | Tipperary |
| Clonmel | Malahide | Tuam |
| Cobh | Monaghan | Westport |
| Dublin 6 | Nenagh | Wicklow |
| New Ross | Youghal |
The survey can be accessed on the DES website here.
