Minister for Education Richard Bruton says the Government is planning to increase the number of multi-denominational schools to 400 within the next 15 years, through a combination of new schools and an accelerated process of divestment. Chairperson of Atheist Ireland, Michael Nugent told Newstalk Breakfast that while on the surface the Minister’s plan seems to be addressing the problem, “in fact it is making the problem worse. “The Minister is essentially saying we need more different types of schools but the Oireachtas Education Committee concluded when it was examining the Admissions to School Bill some years ago, based on briefings from Atheist Ireland, that the patronage system itself with multiple patrons with multiple ethos, leads to segregation and inequality in the education system.”