Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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128. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if, in relation to forthcoming post-primary school plans for Maynooth, County Kildare, he will consider, on a pilot or temporary basis, the amalgamation of the two schools in view of the fact that no planned temporary school buildings will come under the board of management of Maynooth post-primary school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2746/14]

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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The Minister is aware of this issue. An existing post-primary school in Maynooth is in one of the areas identified as requiring additional capacity. Parents campaigned for the patronage of the new school, with the VEC and other potential patrons. They had an expectation that when the VEC was selected it would mean that there would be one large school in Maynooth.

The parents’ group sought a particular version of this model. I know the group met with the Minister's officials before Christmas and, subsequently, put forward a letter seeking clarification. The Department came back to the group, stating this can provide a constructive basis for now considering further practical measures and operational policy approaches that can foster a strong sense of a unified identity in the post-primary school. The group wants to know what this means in practice. It is concerned that the response is at a more superficial level than it would want.

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I remain of the view that the optimum configuration for the two post-primary schools for Maynooth, County Kildare, and, indeed, the best provision that can be made for the students in the area, is two fully vertical schools, namely a junior cycle and senior cycle.

I am aware of the desire locally to avoid issues of duplication or intra-community rivalry in the establishment of a second school which has resulted in a new proposal from the local parents' group to amalgamate the two schools, either temporarily or permanently. I believe, however, there are several practical operational policy measures that can be implemented with the agreement of parents and school leadership to foster a stronger sense of common identity and to benefit from the advantages of shared resources, while maintaining two separate school identities.

The Department will be engaging with the Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board, ETB, to consider this. In turn, the ETB will be engaging further with the school leadership and parents in this regard.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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The Minister said there will be two identities. This is one of the key issues which the parents’ group did not want. The current post-primary school in Maynooth has a great reputation with great progression to third level, on a par with the private school sector, while catering very well for students at the other end of the spectrum with special needs. The school is a good model. Essentially, the community wanted and campaigned for the retention of the one-school model. In its campaign, the VEC gave the impression that this was what it was looking for too. At this stage, parents who participated in this process feel they were misled by the VEC, however.

There does not appear to be a solution other than going back to a ballot of the community. As a physical school will not be in place until this time next year, there is time to revisit this matter to get it right. There is deep upset with the current proposals. People in the community had a strong understanding what they wanted. Now, they feel the consultation process has not delivered on what the parents said they wanted.

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Deputy Catherine Murphy, along with the other three Deputies in that constituency, is well aware of the history of this particular school project, how the selection was made, the process engaged upon by the new school establishment group, all based on the Department’s assessment of the need for additional post-primary places in the growing town of Maynooth. The procedure applied in the Maynooth area was exactly the same as was for schools in other similar towns across the country. There was more than one applicant for the running of the new post-primary school, in addition to the existing school which will get a whole new building.

The matter is complex and I am trying to bring along as many people as possible in the interests of the quality of education in the area, as well as best possible community outcomes. We have made progress and will continue to do so. As the Deputy said, there is some time for that progress to be made. Enrolments have already started for this school, so we have to tread very carefully to ensure everyone involved is consulted on how best to proceed. That is what I intend to do. There have been numerous meetings, as the Deputy will be aware, on this matter. We will have more meetings should that be necessary.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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I attended and was deeply involved in some of these well-attended public meetings. Together with the other Deputies, I was aware that people were very clear as to what they sought. There was no expectation that there would be two vertical schools within the community on a single campus and I note this is replicated nowhere else in the country. However, part of the fall-out from that decision is that this week the Department of Education and Skills will be dealing with section 29 appeals. At one public meeting I attended recently, the single issue that came up repeatedly from parents was that if the child concerned did not get into the existing post-primary school, he or she would feel that he or she had been rejected. This is no way for a child to start secondary school. In many of his replies the Minister has acknowledged the trauma associated with the major change from primary to secondary school. This is absolutely magnified with regard to those children who did not get places in the school. The issue must be dealt with in a highly sensitive way. Moreover, it must not be dealt with in a superficial manner, but a much more unified approach must be taken. This is what people seek and if that requires another ballot, then so be it.

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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First and foremost, the prospect of a section 29 appeal because people are refused access to an existing school will be, among other things, an indication that there are not sufficient places in the area to cope with the demand. This is the reason an additional school was provided for in the first place. However, what no one anticipated was that at the end of the process it would emerge that the new school would be of the same ethos and background as the old school. This has surprised many people because they thought the Department was providing what was part of Government policy - that is, a diversity of choice for parents in that area. The issue is both complex and delicate. I will continue to ensure the Department engages constructively to address all the issues, including those raised by the Deputy and other Members on this matter, in order that a satisfactory outcome is achieved, because of the very good reputation the Maynooth community has for education infrastructure in the area. Moreover, I understand its concerns.