Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein)
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Question 28: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when the forum on patronage and pluralism in the primary sector, as per the programme for Government, will be undertaken; when the terms of reference will be available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5504/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The Forum on Patronage and Pluralism is a key education objective of the Programme for Government which will provide a platform for what I believe is an essential debate in the education agenda.

I am currently considering Terms of Reference for the Forum together with the necessary organisational arrangement to make it happen as quickly as possible. It is my intention to make an announcement in this regard very shortly.

The Forum will deal with a very complex topic and it will need to be mindful of issues such as the expressed willingness of the Catholic Church to consider divesting patronage of some of its primary schools; parental demand for increased availability of different types of schools; and the financial constraints imposed by the current economic climate.

It is my intention that the Forum will take a multi-dimensional approach involving consultations with the key education stakeholders, including parents.