Despite the fact that 96% of our State-funded primary schools remain under the patronage of religious bodies, we now have the farcical situation where a number of oversubscribed multidenominational schools have been told to limit their intakes severely to a half stream of just 13 pupils from next September. The five Educate Together schools, in Trim, Tramore, Tuam, New Ross and Castlebar were established under the school divestment programme. This programme recommended that existing denominational school buildings be divested and transferred to Educate Together to reflect parental demand. However, just a handful of schools have opened under this process.

In total, eight have been established by Educate Together. Of the eight, only two are located in buildings that have been vacated by a Catholic school, while just one Church of Ireland school has transferred patronage. In spite of this, the Department has stepped in to stymie the development of the other five schools by severely limiting their intake. Not only is this causing huge upset among parents in these areas, it also flies in the face of the Department's previous statements on the need for these schools. Clearly, the Department and the Minister are reneging on earlier undertakings. In its analysis of the areas the Department not only found that there was demand for at least a half stream in the majority of the schools, it also recommended that, taking account of the likely long-term requirements, accommodation options to provide for a full stream should be considered. That was the final finding in respect of each of the schools.

In its letter to one of the schools the Department claimed that the intention of the divestment programme was to ensure the establishment of a divested school would not adversely affect existing primary schools in the area. Surely the Taoiseach can see that that is a contradiction in terms. The purpose of the divestment programme is to re-balance the numbers of school places in order to meet and reflect the demand from parents. How can this happen when existing multidenominational schools are being undermined and parents' choice of patronage is being denied? Will the Taoiseach undertake to ensure the Department's erroneous instructions to the five multidenominational schools will be withdrawn immediately and the schools permitted to proceed with a full junior infants class intake in September in order that they can continue to thrive and meet the established demand from local families?

I restate that the Government is committed to ensuring greater diversity in the provision of education and different types of school in Ireland. In the programme for Government we committed to reaching a figure of 400 multidenominational and non-denominational schools by 2030. This is a reflection of the fact that belief systems and cultures have changed in Ireland. Roughly one third - more than one third in some parts of the country - of marriages are non-religious. About 20% of people say they do not practise or do not follow any particular religion. A process to transfer patronage was established by the previous Government, of which I was a member, under the former Minister, Ruairí Quinn. That process has not worked well in that only ten schools have been transferred under the system. We need a new system that will allow more schools to be transferred.

The five schools concerned - the Educate Together schools in Tramore, New Ross, Trim, Tuam and Castlebar - had a half stream or less of junior infants in their year of opening. In some cases, that was due to the physical accommodation the new school was occupying and they could not accommodate additional numbers. The arrangement has reflected the Department's engagement with the patron of the schools - Educate Together - which was restated in correspondence and communications with the schools concerned. However, a case has been submitted by Educate Together to the Department to further expand the schools. It is being considered by the Department.

The Taoiseach seems to be repeating the erroneous statement made by the Department which it subsequently corrected. The original arrangement with the five schools was not to limit them to a half stream. In the case of the majority, it was a minimum of a half stream. In each case it was said the long-term requirement for accommodation for a full stream had to be considered. I ask the Taoiseach not to repeat the mistake made earlier this week by the Department which it has since corrected. My question to him is whether he will ensure the instructions are reversed by the Department in order that the five schools can proceed immediately with planning in order to take in a full junior infants class from September. We need clarity on this issue. Parents have been denied the right to a choice of patronage of their local schools. Will the Taoiseach ensure the earlier commitments will be adhered to?

The answer I have is from the Department and dated today. Therefore, if it is out of date, I apologise.

What is the Taoiseach's opinion?

As I said, the five schools have through their patron, Educate Together, made the case to the Department to be allowed to take in more than a half stream. I am confident that the Department will give full consideration to that case and application. Certainly, if space is available for those children and the teacher is already in place to teach them, it would make a lot of sense, but there may be issues of which I am unaware. I think it is important to allow the Department to assess the case properly.