The process of divesting some primary schools from the Catholic church to other patrons could begin as early as next year.
As a first step, the Department of Education will survey parents' areas - identified as 44 areas where there is an over-supply of Catholic schools - and demand for some alternative forms of school patronage.
Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn said he would be asking the Catholic Church and the other school patrons to respond to these parental surveys by June of next year.
The surveys of parents -including those with children in pre-school - will be conducted in October and November. Most of the surveys will be conducted online. Parents will be asked to name their preferred school patron for their area.
They will also be given information on the main school patronage bodies including the Catholic Church, Educate Together the multidenominational group, the gaelscoileanna and the vocational education committees (VECs) who are already running a small number of community national schools.
Mr Quinn said parents would be given full information on the different types of schools and the different possible patron bodies. Helplines will also be established.
He expressed the hope these surveys could take place in a calm and respectful manner without any media frenzy.
Mr Quinn said: “My department will consult with the patron bodies on a code of practice which will ensure that local discussions are conducted in a reasonable fashion.”
For many parents, he said, this will be the first time they will have a real say in the type of primary school they want their children to go to, whether it is denominational, multi-denominational, all-Irish or other.
The Minister has asked the National Parents Council (Primary) to advise on the development of an information leaflet for parents that will be circulated to all primary schools in the autumn to ensure parents are fully informed about the consultation process.
Areas to be included in initial phase of surveys on school patronage
Arklow, Ballina, Ballinasloe, Bandon, Birr, Buncrana, Carrick-on-Suir, Carrigaline, Castlebar, Celbridge, Clonmel. Cobh, Dungarvan, Edenderry, Enniscorthy, Fermoy, Kells (Ceanannas), Kildare, Killarney, Leixlip, Longford, Loughrea, Malahide, Monaghan, Nenagh, New Ross, Passage West, Portmarnock, Roscommon, Roscrea, Rush, Shannon, Skerries, Thurles, Tipperary, Tramore, Trim, Tuam, Westport, Wicklow, Youghal, Whitehall, Dublin 4, Dublin 6&8
