Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)

I appreciate the reply and I am pleased that departmental officials have been in contact with the patron. Is it fair to extrapolate from the Minister's comments that in the other 19 or 20 dioceses a similar pressure is being exerted on the patron? If I understand the matter correctly, the Department will not contact all existing patrons. Some 93% of primary schools are under the patronage of the Roman Catholic Church. Has the Minister initiated formal contact with existing schools? Part of the problem with over-demand relates to existing schools rather than the provision of new schools. I have another supplementary question, but is it now the policy of the Department, through Mr. Murray's commission, to contact all patrons of all denominations to establish if they are intent on keeping patronage of existing schools or whether they intend divesting patronage in some areas? If so, what orderly transfer will take place and what will the replacement process involve?

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