Change in patronage of schools will be a slow process – Ruairi Quinn
October 22, 2012
Minister Quinn said that there are 3,200 primary schools in Ireland, 93% of which are under Roman Catholic patronage, for historical reasons.
He said there are a lot of people who want a Roman Catholic education for their children and there are many others who want something.
He said what the department is trying to do is to take a historical legacy and respect the voyage of young children through the educational process, while at the same time providing for a diversity of choice of parents.
Minister Quinn said that there is an online survey that parents can be take part in.
It is open to parents with pre-school and primary school going children in Arklow, Castlebar, Tramore, Trim and Whitehall in Dublin.
Surveys were recommended by the Forum on Pluralism and Patronage which published its report earlier this year.
The report of the forum suggested that up to 50 schools in areas where choice is limited or non-existent should change patron to provide for diversity.
Parents of young children in the five aforementioned towns will be surveyed to see what kind of school they want.
If there was a demand for change, they will talk to existing school patrons about the transfer of schools. A further 39 areas will then be surveyed.
The first such transfers are likely to take place in the capital.
The Catholic archdiocese is currently engaged in what it calls a “reorganisation” of its schools.
RTÉ news understands that one such reorganisation is close to completion and could result in the transfer of one Catholic school to multi-denominational status in the very near future.
