Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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174. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he has commissioned a White Paper on divestment of patronage in schools; the persons tasked to draft this paper; the date on which it will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28060/14]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The Report of the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector made a series of recommendations in relation to this area. Among the recommendations, were those relating to areas of stable population. The Report recommended that in such areas, where there is evidence of demand for different types of patronage, this demand could be met by divesting patronage of existing schools.

As part of the implemenation of these recommendations, surveys of parental preferences in 43 such areas were undertaken and sufficient parental demand for a wider choice of school patron emerged in 28 of the areas. The demand demonstrated was for English medium multidenominational education in 27 of these areas, while one area demonstrated demand for an Irish-language national school (35 of the 43 areas surveyed already have a Gaelscoil option available).

Following discussions with the existing Catholic patrons on the potential for permanent accommodation options and discussions with Educate Together on their priorities for initial start-up areas, three new multi-denominational schools will open in September 2014. In addition, the transfer of patronage of a Church of Ireland school to Educate Together patronage from September 2014 in one survey area is also being advanced. A fifth multi-denominational school that opened in temporary accommodation in September 2014 is moving to an Edmund Rice Schools Trust building for September 2014. The engagement with patrons so far has been positive and it is expected that further progress can be achieved for new schools in 2015 and onwards. It is my intention to publish shortly a paper outlining progress in relation to this and other recommendations made by the Forum.