The Government has drawn up plans to take control of some of the country's Catholic schools in an effort to promote diversity in education.Around 92% of primary schools here are Catholic, with the Government responsible for running just 3% of them.
According to the Irish Catholic Newspaper, a list of schools has already been drawn up from 30 different areas around the country.
The majority are in the Dublin region but others which are being considered are in Athlone, Ballinasloe, Killarney and Tramore.