Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 7 May 2014
60. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools he expects to be divested of Catholic church patronage during the next three years; and his plans for those schools. [20490/14]
View answerThree primary schools are expected to open this September under the patronage divesting process, with Educate Together as patron. While permanent buildings are not yet available for these schools, I have given the go-ahead for them in temporary start-up accommodation in order to meet parental demand for greater choice of primary schools as soon as possible.
The transfer of a Church of Ireland school to Educate Together patronage for this coming September is also under discussion. This follows the agreement of the Church of Ireland Bishop and local parents to a change of patronage. A school building for a fifth school will be in use from September by an Educate Together school. This school opened in temporary accommodation last year pending the availability of its permanent building.
Discussions are continuing to take place with the main Catholic patrons in these and in a number of other areas to identify and secure permanent accommodation for the schools in question and to enable further start-ups in 2015 and beyond. As discussions are ongoing it is not possible to estimate the number of schools expected to be divested over the next three years.
