Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 December 2025
463. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an overview of the primary school survey in terms of numbers of surveys completed, by county and as a percentage of overall eligible population; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73551/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Primary School Survey asked parents, guardians, school staff and boards of management members their preference about the primary schools in which they work, or in which their children currently attend, or will attend in coming years.
The primary school survey, which was launched on 4 November, closed on Tuesday 16 December.
The survey – the largest of its kind ever undertaken in Ireland – was school specific and, through its results, aims to enable my department to assess demand and preferences for different types of primary school provision including patronage/ethos, co-education or single-sex school provision and language of instruction (English or Irish).
My department recently issued initial figures setting out that 47% of eligible households have completed a survey, with over 230,000 responses at that stage. I will issue updated figures in due course.
I am delighted with the initial response rate from parents and primary school communities, and I sincerely thank all those who took part in the survey. My department is currently validating the survey responses. As part of this validation, the Eircodes are being checked against the department’s Primary Online Database in respect of primary school children and Child Benefit data in respect of younger children to ensure that the responses are from households with primary school children or younger children. My department’s validation process also involves checks for duplicate responses. PINs unique to each school were provided to each primary school for dissemination to all staff and all Board of Management members.
Through the survey, I and my department are seeking clear information on the preferences of parents and guardians about the primary schools which their children currently attend, or will attend in coming years, on a number of important areas of primary school provision. The results of the survey will help my department plan how education is provided at primary level.
This survey is not a final step. Where there is clear support from parents and guardians for change to be considered, a further process of inclusive dialogue will begin.
All responses to the survey will remain confidential and anonymous.
