Pupils to learn religion according to own faith

PUPILS are to be taught religion according to their own faith in State-run primary schools, the Department of Education revealed yesterday.

Two pilot community national schools, designed to cater for children from families of all faiths and none, will open in Dublin next September. The schools in Phibblestown and Phoenix Park will operate under the patronage of Co Dublin Vocational Education Committee in a pilot project for expansion nationally, the first time primary schools will be run by a VEC.

The department has also agreed to transfer the patronage of a school in Diswellstown, opened at short notice by Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin last September to meet the shortage of places locally, to the same VEC this autumn.