John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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398. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the stage plans are at for the proposed location and timeframe in providing a new Educate Together school for Arklow, County Wicklow as previously announced under the process to bring about more diversity and inclusiveness in the primary school system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25094/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, I have announced new plans aimed at accelerating the provision of 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 to reach 400 such schools by 2030.

I would point out that the previous model of patronage divestment yielded only a very limited number of schools for transfer to multi-denominational patrons (10 since 2013). I believe that the new schools reconfiguration for diversity process has the potential to significantly increase patron diversity in our school system.

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, including Arklow.