Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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140. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of divesting patronage from 500 primary schools to multi-denominational or non-religious bodies over a five year period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12187/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The Government is committed to progressing the patronage divesting process to provide greater choice to parents in areas of stable population, as well as ensuring that parental preferences are key to patronage decisions on new schools established in areas of demographic growth. Since 2011, the arrangements for the establishment of new schools in areas of growing population have resulted in the majority of these having a multi-denominational ethos.

In this regard, 39 of the 42 new schools (24 primary schools and 18 post-primary schools) have a multi-denominational ethos. The Programme for a Partnership Government reflects the Government's objective of strengthening parental choice and further expanding diversity in our school system, specifically by increasing the number of non-denominational and multi-denominational schools with a view to reaching 400 by 2030.

In addition to the phased transfer of Catholic schools to new patrons already under way, this will require considering new ideas and new approaches to substantially accelerate the changes in school provision in order to achieve greater diversity. The Government is committed to working with all stakeholders to facilitate this process and I will be progressing these matters as a priority.

It is not possible at this point to estimate the costs involved, given that a number of factors, including the location, nature and condition of the properties being offered for divestment and the particular circumstances applying to each project will impact on the costs involved in each case.