THE DEPARTMENT of Education and the Catholic hierarchy are exploring the possibility that some Dublin schools may no longer be controlled by the church.
In the Dáil yesterday, Minister for Education Batt O’Keeffe revealed that his officials are “seeking details of any schools where a change of patronage might potentially be relevant”.
The moves come after indications from the Catholic Archbishop of Dublin, Diarmuid Martin, that the church was ready to step aside from the management of schools in areas where there is little parental demand for Catholic education.
Dr Martin has said future school governance might best be served by a plurality of providers, reflecting the changing ethnic and cultural mix of modern Irish society. He has also acknowledged that the Catholic Church, for various historical reasons, is now over-represented in the management of primary schools.
At present, the Catholic Church controls more than 3,000 of the 3,200 primary schools in the State. Recent years have seen a surge in demand for multidenomination and other forms of schools patronage.
Yesterday, the INTO cautioned that “while a plurality of providers might at first appear attractive it will undoubtedly mean increased expenditure, fragmentation of provision and could lead to the development of a two-tiered system”.
General secretary John Carr said these issues must be urgently clarified given the substantial role that the Catholic Church plays in the education sector.
In the Dáil, the Minister said Dr Martin had indicated that he had no specific locations in mind where one or more schools under his patronage might transfer to another patron in 2007.
But the issue was now being revisited as the planning section of his department examined future school accommodation needs.
As part of this examination, the Minister told Ruairí Quinn of Labour, his department “will be consulting directly with all existing patrons about specific areas where the establishment of new schools will be required and how emerging demands in these areas will be addressed”.
In recent years two State-run primary schools have been established for the first time. Both operate under the aegis of the County Dublin Vocational Education Committee (VEC).
The issue of religious instruction in these schools has still to be fully clarified. The Department of Education has signalled that religious instruction will take place during school hours, but the churches want to ensure it is given by suitably qualified staff.
