Parents in 39 towns and city suburbs will be asked their views from next week on a choice of up to five alternative patrons to their local, Catholic-run, primary schools.

Children from a mix of social, religious, and other backgrounds attend all primary schools but Catholic schools are still dominated by Catholic pupils, research shows.

Ruairi Quinn, the education minister, has rejected the advice of his officials and independent experts to decide who will be patron of two new primary schools.

THE Department of Education has received applications from eight groups to be patrons of 13 new primary schools due to open in the next two years.

FORTY schools are to open in the next six years to cater for the growing school-going population.

The Minister for Education and Skills Ruairí Quinn today announced that 20 new primary schools and 20 new post-primary schools are to be established in the next six years.