The Irish Bishops have welcomed an announcement by Minister for Education Richard Bruton that a system of surveys and consultations with parents and patrons will precede future divestment of faith schools. Under the new two-stage plan, Education and Training Boards will first work to identify areas where there is likely to be demand from families for diversity in schooling. Secondly, where such demand is demonstrated justifying transfer of at least one school from denominational status, a process will be set in train to realise this. “Where the need for a transfer to a multi-denominational patron is identified by surveys, the existing landowner, in cooperation with the local school community, will decide what multi-denominational patron to transfer to. The transfer will be by way of a live school transfer, with existing staff remaining in place, where this is the wish of the parties involved. In most cases the new patron will lease the building from the landowner,” Minister Bruton said. He added: “I believe that we should acknowledge the role of religious organisations in providing a system of national education for nearly two centuries. I also believe that a desire on behalf of many parents to have their children educated within their faith is welcome and should be respected.”