The opposition of most schools bodies to a proposed Ombudsman for Education suggests a fear of accountability, a Fine Gael TD has claimed.

Delays in deciding who will open four new primary schools have been linked to prospective patrons poorly representing valid interest levels among parents.

Parents are today celebrating as the Department of Education and Skills (DES) announced that Educate Together will be the patron of two new national schools.

Minister’s endorsement of the community national school (CNS) system comes as it vies with Educate Together to open more schools.

A competition to manage a new primary school in the Cork town of Ballincollig has opened with an invitation for prospective patrons to apply.

Schools that fulfil criteria as Gaeltacht schools will get extra staff and other resources to support their work of keeping the Irish language alive.

A battle for the patronage of a primary school planned for one of Cork’s largest towns has kicked off.

Work on a new building for a gaelscoil on Cork’s northside is still awaiting the transfer of the controversial site for its construction from the city council.

Four new multi-denominational primary schools are expected to open later this year.

New multi-denominational schools will open this year in four towns where parents want more choice than only the faith-based schools currently available.

PRIMARY schools are where the foundations for a life of learning are laid for children.

Tears flowed for infants and parents parting at the classroom door for the first time, but they are not the only ones marking new beginnings this week.

The Department of Education is considering applications from eight prospective patrons for control of a dozen new schools to be opened in the next three years.

A primary school board has been sacked by its patron for enrolling an extra infant class last September without approval.

A wider information campaign is planned to promote a survey of parents on primary school choices after a mixed response to a trial survey before Christmas.

Parents in 39 towns and city suburbs will be asked their views from next week on a choice of up to five alternative patrons to their local, Catholic-run, primary schools.

Catholic bishops have been given six months to respond to the demand for alternative primary schools in five specific areas where the Department of Education conducted a survey among parents.

Strict rules that include a ban on leaflet drops and budget limits on marketing material have been applied to prospective patrons to ensure a level playing field.

Another area of Dublin has been included in the list of areas where parents will be surveyed on the possibility of replacing a Catholic primary school with a new patron.

Government funding cuts, inability to reclaim Vat and restrictions on bulk buying force schools to rely more on parents to stay open, school managers have said.

About 15,000 families more than expected may get financial help from the State for back-to-school costs this year as parents continue to struggle with uniform and book costs.

Surveys to find out if parents want more non-Catholic primary schools and which patron they would prefer are to begin within weeks.

Non-denominational school patron Educate Together will be involved in the running of secondary schools for the first time from next year.

Non-denominational school patron Educate Together will be involved in the running of secondary schools for the first time from next year.

The timescale for the first hand-overs of Catholic schools in areas where parents want more choice will be revealed by Education Minister Ruairi Quinn today.

Ruairi Quinn, the education minister, has rejected the advice of his officials and independent experts to decide who will be patron of two new primary schools.

PARENTS of Muslim children would like greater provision by schools to facilitate prayer and flexibility around their religious holidays.

TWO groups involved in the country’s growing number of gaelscoileanna have rejected the report on future primary school provision, claiming it blocks children’s chances of an all-Irish education.

IN the last five years more than 50 primary schools have opened around the country, mostly in areas where new communities have grown around housing developments.

A BODY that is patron to more than 60 all-Irish schools has offered its services in areas where the Catholic Church may decide to hand over control of some of its schools.

EDUCATION Minister Batt O’Keeffe is to overturn a controversial directive by his predecessor Mary Hanafin that gaelscoil pupils must be taught English from their second term in junior infants.

The Green Party tonight backed Government cuts in the education sector but said it wanted future changes in how schools are funded.

Ten organisations involved in the country’s primary schools today joined forces to demand education cuts in the Budget be withdrawn.

TWO-thirds of primary schools opening their doors for the first time in September will offer multidenominational education in a reflection of growing demand for schools not run by the churches.

IN his letter published on November 26, Maurice Fitzgerald unfairly attacked the Irish medium education sector in an intemperate assault on faith-based schools and their role in Irish education.

EDUCATION Minister Mary Hanafin has rejected calls to withdraw a directive that pupils of all-Irish schools should be taught English from the second term of junior infants.

PARENTS of Gaelscoil pupils have given their backing to the policy of teaching no English for up to two years, despite a directive from Education Minister Mary Hanafin that schools should end the practice from next year.

A DIRECTIVE from Education Minister Mary Hanafin that Gaelscoileanna should begin teaching English to pupils no later than the second term of junior infants has been subjected to legal challenge.

THE Department of Education has received applications for the opening of 16 new schools next September.

THE majority of new primary schools due to open this year will be open to children of all religions, reflecting the growth in demand for more inclusive education in recent years.

TWO women shouted abuse at a man outside a court yesterday before he was charged with an arson attack on a family home.

A PRINCIPAL who was dismissed in a row over the teaching of religion will seek compensation at an appeals hearing next week.

A report into the circumstances surrounding the sacking of the principal of a Co Meath gaelscoil earlier this year has recommended that the main churches spell out their attitude to religious education in interdenominational schools.

A REPORT into the row which led to the sacking of a Gaelscoil principal recommends a more coordinated approach to the teaching of religion.