No response from minister to multifaith school plans

EDUCATE Together has heard nothing but silence from the Department of Education for four months in response to an application to open second-level schools — despite a growing demand from parents.

The organisation is already patron to 44 multidenominational primary schools with about 8,700 pupils, and will open a dozen more this autumn.

Following interest from parents at many of its primary schools, Educate Together wrote to then education minister Mary Hanafin last December seeking approval to register as a second level patron.