THE DEPARTMENT of Education is set to review the traditional system in which primary schools gain recognition.
At present, various patrons, like the Catholic hierarchy, the multi denominational group Educate Together and the Gaelscoileanna movement, are entitled to seek recognition once they have a particular number of pupils.
But Minister for Education Batt O'Keeffe says it is no longer realistic to grant recognition to every patron.
In an interview with The Irish Times, he said he was "astounded to find that you can seek recognition of a primary school with 17 children and you can look for full recognition after three years if you have 53 pupils enrolled".
He said the department would be looking seriously at this issue.
In a situation in which the Government was seeking the best value for money, he said the automatic right to demand recognition would need to be examined.
The Minister stressed he would maintain the right of the existing patrons to continue to apply for patronage of schools.
But he would also look at demographic and value for money issues.
In the current climate, it was unreasonable to expect a new national school at every crossroads.
There was, he said, an acceptance that the department could no longer meet the demands of every patron to establish new schools.
"We're going to have to look at the demographics, look at the actual needs, look at the demand there will be in the area, look at the availability of land, at the cost of land," he said.
John Carr, INTO general secretary, said the Minister's comments recognised the changed nature of Irish society.
Mr Carr said he had long questioned the ability of the State to provide schools for every group of parents wishing to establish their own schools.
"Is it possible, never mind desirable to have in every city, town and village different types of schools that reflect the individual wishes of each and every subset of parents living in a particular area?" asked Mr Carr.
Earlier this month, the new State-run community national school in Phibblestown, west Dublin opened on grounds which also accommodate the local second-level school.
Eventually, both schools will share state of the art sports, library and other facilities.
For the department, this model is more cost effective than the current situation where there is little pooling of facilities.
The department is under pressure to cut costs with more than 100,000 additional primary students expected to begin schooling over the next decade.
At present, there are more than 3,200 primary schools in the State, over 90 per cent of them under the patronage of the Catholic Church. This compares with just over 700 schools at second level.
The Minister said we will not be seeing small schools in developing areas.
Last week, Educate Together - the fastest growing patron in Irish education - said it planned 45 new schools. Many of the new Educate Together schools tend to be located in rapidly developing areas.
