Schools Reconfiguration for Diversity

This webpage sets out some general and practical information which may be useful for school communities and school authorities & staff where reconfiguration/transfer of patronage of a school is being considered or implemented.

This information aims to provide information on the transfer of patronage process, to address queries which the Department has received from parents and others, and to address questions that school communities who are interested in a transfer of patronage may have. However, there may be questions that you have that are not addressed in the below information, in which case please e-mail the Department of Education at reconfiguration@education.gov.ie.

This information is provided for information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.

The Schools Reconfiguration for Diversity process, supporting transfers of schools to multi-denominational patrons in response to the wishes of school communities, aims to facilitate more availability of multi-denominational schools across the country. The Reconfiguration process involves existing schools changing their patron. This is called a transfer of patronage. Transfers of patronage may also involve a change of ethos (for example, a change from a denominational (religious) ethos to a multi-denominational ethos).

When a school transfers from the patronage of one patron to another, the school remains open (with the same roll number and operating from the same school property), with staff and pupils remaining in place.