Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Question 146: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason he decided upon a figure of 50% of schools to be divested from the control of the catholic church before the forum on patronage and pluralism has begun its consultations with the relevant stakeholders. [6627/11]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Question 147: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views whether it is realistic to begin divesting 1,500 schools from the patronage of the catholic church by January 2012. [6628/11]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Question 148: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he has considered the legal complexities involved in transferring patronage from one patron to another. [6629/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 146, 147 and 148 together. As the Deputies will not doubt be aware, I have recently announced the establishment of a Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector which will be convened in the coming weeks and will complete its work before the end of this year. The Forum will offer a platform for consideration of the very many issues that arise in the context of divesting of patronage by the Catholic Church and transfer of patronage generally. The Forum will take a multi-dimensional approach involving consultations with the key education stakeholders, including parents and other interested parties in order to ensure the widest possible consultation on this important issue. The Forum will be led by the Advisory Group which I have established for this purpose. I would hope that the work of the Forum will deliver clear agreed specific modalities for the transfer of patronage which will allow for progress to be made on actual transfers during 2012.