A theologian has claimed planned changes to the treatment of religious education in schools could dilute the core ethos of Catholic schools.

While the eventual divesting of Catholic schools in some urban areas should better reflect a diversifying population in many areas, there is little scope to provide school types to match the faith demographics of every community.

The first handover of Catholic primary schools to new patrons will take at least two years, but parents have welcomed the key role they will have in the process.

IT’S time we paid more than lip service to parental choice in education.

Churches have serious concerns about the religious identity of their schools as a result of moves to make them more inclusive, a Catholic schools leader said.

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.

Removing Communion and Confirmation preparation from the school day, and changes to laws that allow schools restrict places to children of their own faith, have been recommended in a blueprint for the primary education system.

Nearly 50 communities around the country have been identified as the sites where the Catholic Church should first hand over control of primary schools.

Strong differences persist about religious teaching and the dominance of church patrons in schools ahead of the publication of a major report on the issues in the coming weeks.

EXPERTS appointed to oversee Education Minister Ruairi Quinn’s Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector are finalising draft policy proposals.

CATHOLIC primary schools are to be asked to consider if they might hand control to another patron — though both the timeframe and the number of schools which might change hands remain unclear.

THE opportunity to create a greater choice of schools for parents was lost during the boom, a Catholic education leader has claimed.

THE Department of Education has said any problems about the transfer of ownership arising out of a change in patronage of primary schools should be overcome through goodwill and leasing arrangements.

THE National Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector is the body charged with mapping out the future of the country’s 3,200 primary schools.

THERE is no reason why school trusts cannot continue to transfer buildings to other school patrons, the head of the body overseeing Ireland’s multi-denominational schools has said.

THE country’s vocational education committees (VECs) offer the most cost-effective and inclusive option for communities looking for a different kind of primary school, representatives claimed yesterday.

THE decision on whether or which schools should be divested to new patrons should not be decided by a simple local vote, parents and Catholic bishops appeared to agree yesterday.

CATHOLIC primary schools could have planned extensions delayed or cancelled if there is demand for other types of schools in an area, under policy recommendations to Education Minister Ruairi Quinn.

LEGAL changes to allow vocational education committees become patrons of primary schools face delay as the control of schools comes under close scrutiny.

ANY changes to the patronage of schools will have to be managed in a way that is cost-neutral, Education Minister Ruairi Quinn has warned.

Ruairí Quinn’s moves to transfer some Catholic schools to other patrons has been well received, writes Education Correspondent Niall Murray

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.

AMBITIOUS plans by Education Minister Ruairí Quinn to transfer up to half of Catholic primary schools to new patrons from early next year have been broadly welcomed.

A leading academic on education is describing some of the cutbacks proposed by An Bord Snip Nua as "crazy and short-sighted".

ONE of Kerry’s best-known literary figures will be honoured at a festival, which opened in his home village last night.

EDUCATION Minister Noel Dempsey is examining ways to get more men interested in becoming teachers as part of an effort to meet huge staff shortages in schools.