The pace at which a number of primary schools in Ireland will be handed over to different patrons has been called into question.

Education Minister Ruairi Quinn would like to see Catholic bishops providing the names of schools to be transferred by the end of this year - but a church education spokesperson has pointed to practical problems that could delay progress in some areas, adding the situation is different for the various communities involved, the Irish Independent reports.

The rift relates to the handing over of 29 of the bishops' 3,000 primary schools - a move that comes after parental surveys in 43 regions and is aimed at providing greater choice of school ethos.

Mr Quinn said the transfers should take place before 2013 draws to a close so that arrangements can be made to allow the schools to open under new patronage in September 2014.

However, executive chairperson of the Catholic Schools Partnership Father Michael Drumm claimed there is no one size fits all approach for the matter, explaining complex situations will require creative responses.

Written by Donal Walsh

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