Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 23: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he is preparing to submit a report to the United Nations Human Rights Committee on 31 July 2009 in relation to the role of religion within the education system here; if he will provide a copy of this response; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26682/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The UN Human Rights Committee considered various aspects of Irish law and practice during its 93rd session in Geneva in July 2008.

The report on the proceedings included the recommendation that, "The State party should increase its efforts to ensure that non-denominational primary education is widely available in all regions of the State party, in view of the increasingly diverse and multi-ethnic composition of the population of the State party"

The Committee indicated that Ireland should provide, within one year, information on its implementation of this and other recommendations.

The preparation of Ireland's response to the relevant recommendation in the Committee's report is being finalised by my Department and will be conveyed to the Committee by the deadline via the Department of Foreign Affairs, which has a coordinating role in this matter.

A copy of the response will be forwarded to the Deputy following its submission to the Committee.

Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 25: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will meet with the Catholic bishops to discuss the discontinuation of their patronage of public schools. [26727/09]

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 35: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he has contacted the Archbishop of Dublin, in view of their speech on 17 June 2009, and their comments on reducing the role of the Catholic Church in the education system here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26679/09]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 37: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the steps being taken towards the complete removal of the church from the public education system. [26722/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 25, 35 and 37 together.

My Department is currently consulting directly with patrons about specific areas where the establishment of new schools will be required and how emerging demands in these areas will be addressed and as part of the process will be seeking details of any schools where a change of patronage might potentially be relevant.

In tandem with this, a review of the procedures for the establishment of new primary schools is being undertaken by the Commission on School Accommodation.

Among the issues being considered by the Technical Working Group established under the Commission is the issue of patronage, including the criteria that must be met to become a patron and the circumstance where changes to patronage may be warranted. The Technical Working Group will also consider the general approach to maximising the use of existing spare capacity where this arises, including possible changes to patronage.

As part of this process, if meetings with the Catholic Bishops are needed to discuss or clarify any general issues relating to the change of patronage, these will be arranged. In this context, officials from my Department will shortly be in contact with the Archbishop of Dublin to arrange further discussion to determine how best to agree a framework by which the issues of school patronage, ownership of school property, the demand for denominational education and other associated matters can be addressed.