Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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206. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which school patronage options have been taken up by the various primary and post-primary schools nationally; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30588/20]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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207. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which school patronage options have been taken up by the various primary and post-primary schools throughout County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30589/20]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 206 and 207 together.

Since the arrangements for the establishment of new schools came into effect in 2011, a significant number of new schools have been established under the New Schools Establishment process. When it has been decided that a new school is required to meet a demographic need, a separate process is conducted to establish who will run (i.e. be the patron of) the school. In this regard, it is open to all patron bodies and prospective patrons to apply for patronage of a new school under the patronage process. Parental preferences for each patron, together with the extent of diversity currently available in the area, are key to decisions in relation to the outcome of this process.

Separately, 12 new multi-denominational schools have been established under the patronage divesting process. In addition, a number of transfers of patronage, including from denominational patrons, to multi-denominational patrons have recently taken place increasing the number of multi-denominational Community National Schools.

The attached table provides details of schools established or having transferred patronage since 2011.