66% of new primary schools to be multidenominational

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.

Education Minister Mary Hanafin yesterday gave recognition to 18 new mainstream primary schools for funding and eligibility for buildings from her department. Most of them are in urban areas where local schools have had trouble coping with demand for places, particularly from children of migrant families, in recent years.

The multidenominational organisation Educate Together will act as patron to 12 of the schools and four special schools have been approved. Only three new schools next September will be under the patronage of the local Catholic bishop, one each in Dublin, Cork and a Gaelscoil in Castleblayney, Co Monaghan.