Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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332. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of meetings he or his officials have had with senior members of the Catholic Church or Catholic patrons bodies in regard to school divestment or school admissions and enrolment since coming to office. [34624/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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As Minister, I am consulting with all education stakeholders on an ongoing basis and on a range of issues. My officials, advisors and I have had regular engagement with all groups with an involvement in the issue of patronage, including the Catholic Church and other patron bodies, since I took up office. This includes interaction in relation to the plans to change the patronage of schools in line with the programme for government commitments as well as the previous patronage divesting process.

As the Deputy will be aware, following discussions on patronage divesting with education stakeholders and patron bodies in 2016, on the 30th January, 2017, I announced new plans aimed at providing more multi-denominational and non-denominational schools across the country, in line with the choices of parents, families and school communities and the Programme for Government commitment in this area. While these new structures are being introduced, my Department will continue to work with the main stakeholders to progress delivery of diversity in areas already identified, in 2017 and beyond.

In relation to school admissions, as the Deputy is aware I carried out a consultation process in relation to the role of denominational religion in the school admission process. The first step in this consultation process invited written submissions from the public, schools and interest groups between 24th January and 20th March 2017. The written consultation process attracted almost 1,000 responses from a combination of individuals, schools and stakeholder organisations, including those representing the Catholic Church. Following the conclusion of the written consultation period, I held a public Forum on 29th May 2017 on the role of religion in primary school admissions, which was attended by over 120 individuals.

This is a highly complex and difficult issue. There are no easy solutions to this problem, with difficulties in areas including constitutional law, administration of the schools system and protection of minority religious groups.

I have and will continue to consult with people and groups, including the Catholic Church, who stand to be affected by any changes in this area.