Mr. Hubert Loftus:

On the Government target of 400 primary schools by 2030, there are currently 166 multidenominational schools. If one looks back a decade or so, it was approximately half that number. The challenge is to more than double the number over the guts of a decade and to then move forward. In that regard, there are opportunities with regard to new schools where there is demographic need. The bulk of new schools that have been established have been multidenominational. That is where the demand has been. Separately, we have agreed pilot arrangements with the Catholic Church in respect of the provision of multidenominational education and the opportunities in that area. We targeted that pilot at areas where there was no multidenominational education provision and where there were at least four Catholic primary schools. We looked at appointing facilitators to support that process. That will yield results by means of reconfiguration and new multidenominational provision in certain towns and areas where there is demand. In other areas, the engagement is likely to result in a view that there is not enough demand on the ground. What we are ultimately about is providing the opportunity for those communities to see whether they want to take this on board. There are many stakeholders involved.