Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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The policy on school patronage divesting is to use existing educational infrastructure to enable diversity of provision in an area where there is no demographic imperative to establish a new school. This was the approach recommended in the report of the Advisory Group to the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary School Sector.

Arising from the Forum's report, a number of areas were surveyed where the population was stable but there was demand for choice in provision. Dublin 6 was one such area and the preferred patron identified was Educate Together. The Department is working with the Catholic Church to secure a solution that will meet the demand. At this stage, I am not in a position to make any further statement. I can assure the Deputy every effort is being made to expedite the process.