Parents of primary school children in Tipperary are to be asked which patron bodies they would like to see running schools.
At present, some 96% of primary schools are under church patronage, with approximately 3,000 schools under the remit of the Catholic Church.
If parents indicate they would like a wider choice of patron, then the Department of Education will ask existing patrons to come up with a plan to transfer some schools to other patron bodies.
In County Tipperary the towns included are Nenagh, Roscrea, Thurles, Tipperary Town, Clonmel and Carrick on Suir.
Education Minister Ruairi Quinn's urging people in these areas to take part.
