Minister publishes Education (Amendment) Bill 2010 to allow VEC primary schools

Tanaiste and Education Minister Mary Coughlan has published legislation which will allow a new type of primary school run by Vocational Educational Committees. Minister Coughlan said of the Education (Amendment) Bill 2010:

“A new model of community national school, which is being piloted in two locations in Dublin since September 2008 and three further locations in Counties Dublin, Kildare and Meath since September 2010, seeks to meet the need for a new form of plurality of education provision within the framework of a single school setting.”

The new bill provides for the establishment of community national schools under VEC patronage and, in certain circumstances, for a VEC to become patron or joint patron of an existing primary school. The bill also includes a number of other amendments to the Education Act 1998 and the Teaching Council Act 2001.

Further information:

• Press release from the Department of Education and Skills
• Download the Bill on the Oireachtas website