Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 November 2025
346. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education and Youth her plans for a survey on parents of post-primary school students in view of the survey of primary school parents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65190/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 4 November, my department announced the launch of an online, school-specific survey of parents and guardians, and primary school communities in line with the department’s Education Plan 2025 which commits to seeking to increase choice for parents by ensuring that families can access both multi/non-denominational and faith-based education.
The survey is for:
• Parents and guardians of children who have not yet started primary school
• Parents and guardians of children currently attending primary school
• Primary school staff and Board of Management members.
This is the first time that a national survey of this scale is being undertaken. Parents and guardians of children who are either in, or have yet to start primary school, are being asked their preference on important aspects of school provision and choice in respect of the school that their children attend now or will attend in the future.
This is the first survey of its type and involves significant logistical arrangements. The learnings from the process can be useful in respect of any future survey requirement.
Nationally, at post-primary level, 48.6% of students are enrolled in multi-denominational or inter-denominational schools, 47.8% are enrolled in schools with a Catholic ethos and 2.9% are enrolled in schools with a Church of Ireland ethos. (The remaining 0.7% is accounted for by post-primary schools with an ethos other than Catholic, Church of Ireland, inter-denominational or multi-denominational).
