Review of Formal Education and Specialised Supports in Fingal

The FDB’s “Strategy into Action 2006-2008” clearly identified the need for a baseline review of formal education services & specialised supports in Fingal.

Review of Formal Education Services and Specialised Supports template (33KB)

Action 10 Analysis of Educational Services and Facilities

Membership

Chair: Stephen Falvey (Dept. of Education & Science), Mairéad Murphy (Institute of Technology Blanchardstown), Vacant (Co. Dublin VEC), Alan Sharkey (FÁS).

Background

• It was agreed by the members of the FDB that an overall profile of the provision of formal education services in the county was needed in order to highlight gaps in the current provision and make a number of recommendations which could then be acted upon if agreed by the full Board.

• The group has met regularly since being established in March 2006 and is working well together. The DES has provided an extensive range of information about primary and post-primary schools services and supports. Information has also been provided by the Co. Dublin VEC, Institute of Technology Blanchardstown and FÁS.

Issues

• To date the main issue has been the overwhelming amount of information that is actually available (particularly from the Dept. of Education & Science) - the detail of which needs to be condensed and Fingal-specific.

• The original intention was to produce a draft report for the Board to consider in February 2007 but the completion date has now been extended to the end of the summer. This is to allow for the incorporation of the 2006 Census age breakdown statistics of the county, which will be released by the CSO during July and August.

• The challenge is to provide a report that has clear recommendations that can be acted on by Board members and their parent organisations. By extending the completion date of the report, the Board will have an up-to-date profile of services and issues arising, along with a profile of the current and future school going population.

For further information please contact Eithne Mallin by email or at (01) 890 6233.