Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The programme for Government gives a commitment to move towards a more pluralist system of patronage for schools. In this context, a forum on patronage and pluralism in the primary sector was established to look at how schools could cater for diversity and ensure an inclusive environment for all their pupils. Work is continuing on implementing the action plan arising from this forum, including advancing the patronage divesting process.

Under this process, which creates greater choice for parents in areas where there is not a demographic need for new school provision, eight new primary schools have opened and work is continuing to advance choices in the other identified areas. However, more needs to be done. I intend to reinvigorate the process to speed up divestment and to that end I intend to meet the Catholic bishops and the other patrons in the coming period.

In addition to divesting, in those areas where there is a demographic need for new schools, the arrangements introduced in 2011 place a strong emphasis on parental choice. Under this process, 20 new primary schools and 17 new post-primary schools have opened. Some 35 of these 37 schools have a multi-denominational ethos.

See this speech in context