Officials at the Department of Education are looking at ten urban areas where the number of Catholic primary schools will be cut, it has been revealed.

But under arrangements announced by the Minister for Education, Batt O’Keefe earlier this year, it will be the patrons of the schools, normally the local bishop, and local communities who will decide on the need for Church-run schools and whether closures will take place.

Mr O`Keeffe told the Catholic Primary Schools Management Association (CPSMA) AGM that the aim of the review was to meet demands for religion-linked teaching.

“I do appreciate that the process of letting go a school that may have a long history and tradition in a locality may be painful for some,” he said.

“However, in line with the theme of your conference in looking forward to the next generation, change will ultimately also bring about a consolidation and strengthening of the remaining Catholic provision matched to the demand for it.”

The Department of Education said the ten areas being tested for surplus Catholic schools will be published in the coming weeks.

Mr O’Keeffe attempted to ease fears over potential closures, insisting that any decision on the identity of schools being shut down would ultimately rest with the patron, normally the local bishop, and the Catholic community in the parish or parishes concerned.

He said: “I do not believe we need any major discussion forum in relation to this likely change.

“General demographic change combined with changed public attitudes to religion has already happened. It simply has yet to find full expression in terms of an appropriate diversification of school patronage.”

According to a recent Red C poll commissioned by The Iona Institute shows that around 46 percent of Catholics attend Mass each week and a total of 64 percent attend Mass at least once a month. Just over 90 percent of primary schools are run by the Catholic Church.