Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

No, but I can give Deputy Martin some information now.

The Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector was officially launched by the Minister for Education and Skills on 19 April this year. It is a key education objective of the programme for a national Government 2011-2016. In announcing the establishment of the forum on 28 March, the Minister stated that it would take a multidimensional approach involving consultations with the key education stakeholders, including parents. He appointed an advisory group to convene that forum to receive and look at the various views and perspectives of participants and to provide policy advice having regard to the terms of reference. The advisory group has to conduct a number of meetings and report back, obviously, having sought submissions from the public as part of its work. This was not a matter of any discussion at the meeting I had with it but when we meet the churches, this will be a matter of concern on both sides.

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