There are fears that Educate Together national office may have to significantly reduce their services to schools due to a lack of funding.

School group Educate Together has appealed for funds after admitting it was "entering a period of real financial crisis" and could not keep up with demand for its services.

Two multi-denominational schools will open this week in temporary accommodation because no existing property has yet been provided for them as part of the Government-led patronage divestment process.

Minister of State for Justice and Equality Aodhán Ríordán is to bring a damning United Nations’ report on Ireland’s human rights record to the "heart of the Oireachtas".

Primary school education groups have warned that educational spending could be a huge political issue in next year’s local elections.

Victoria White’s article (Opinion, Apr 4), advocating the growth of the VEC sector in primary education makes the assertion that a change of patronage from Catholic to Educate Together is ‘more of the same’.

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.

Plans to overhaul the system of religious patronage in primary schools was broadly welcomed yesterday, with many claiming it was merely the start of a process of change.

Change needed, says Paul Rowe

Education Minister Ruairi Quinn has backed the new type of state-run primary school despite concerns about religious teaching.

EDUCATE Together has called on the Government to abolish the Junior Certificate so special needs funding can be made a priority.

FORTY schools are to open in the next six years to cater for the growing school-going population.

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.

EDUCATE TOGETHER hopes to open its first second-level schools in the next two years after Government approval for the multi-denominational group to become a patron body.

The Government has formally recognised multi-denominational body Educate Together as a second-level patron.

THE newly-announced Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector will change primary education in Ireland. But is the minister’s target of 1,500 schools transferring to new patronage achievable? If it is, what will all these schools transform into and what will it mean for parents?

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.

EDUCATE Together is to open two new primary schools in the next week.

CATHOLIC bishops have opened almost 30 primary schools in the past decade, but appear to be seeking preferential treatment over other patrons when schools are required in growingareas.

Primary schools are facing an unprecedented level of demand next year with double the number of school openings required, according to Educate Together.

THE expenses and allowances paid to councillors serving on vocational education committees (VECs) were last night condemned by a primary management leader.

CAROL and Peter Dunne are among thousands of parents seeking their own choice of multi-denominational second-level education for their families.

THE budget cutbacks in education will cost vocational schools alone more than 260 teachers and a further 150 jobs could be lost in further education colleges, according to managers.

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

PRIMARY school managers have issued an urgent appeal to the Government to raise spending on their schools amid fears that further financial cutbacks could cause huge damage to the education of future generations.

Multi-denominational primary schools group Educate Together is to open 12 new school buildings on Monday.

A survey has found strong support for the idea of introducing Educate Together secondary schools in Ireland.

Educate Together is calling on the Government provide new schools with more funding.

SCHOOL management bodies yesterday warned the Government that dozens of primary schools face closure because of the State’s failure to adequately fund education.

EDUCATION Minister Mary Hanafin has come under further pressure to amend her strict policy on how autistic children are taught from her own party colleagues.

THE interdenominational schools group Educate Together plans to open second-level schools for the first time within two or three years to cater for the thousands of pupils being taught in its primary schools.

THE gender gap in exam performance continued this year as official figures show girls got significantly better grades in most Junior Certificate subjects.

IN an unusual reversal of roles, the Department of Education has asked Educate Together to open a multi- denominational school — at short notice — in a fast-growing part of north Co Dublin.

IN your coverage of the recent INTO conference, your readers may have got the impression that there is no existing model of education that addresses the needs for equality and religious diversity in schools.

UP to 400 more multi-denominational schools could be needed to offer parents a proper choice to suit their educational requirements for their children, it was claimed last night.

THE Government could face sanctions from the United Nations following complaints it has failed to plan and adequately support multi-denominational schools.

PARENTS forced to send their children to schools that conflict with their religious and moral preferences may go to court to seek State funding for alternative teaching arrangements, warns Educate Together.

MOVES to make the planning of new schools more transparent have been welcomed by the fastest-growing sector of primary education.

PROPER planning could help solve the building crisis for new schools in developing areas or for multicultural communities, an Oireachtas committee heard yesterday.

THE Government could face a constitutional challenge from Muslims, Methodists and other minority religious practitioners in Ireland unless it makes greater efforts to help set up multi-denominational schools.

THERE are 19,000 Muslims living in Ireland and almost 6% of the population is made up of non-nationals.

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.