Plans for school patronage welcomed

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.

The Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector will seek submissions in public meetings and discussions with stakeholders on how the education system can provide the number and range of primary schools to cater for all religions and none.

Of the country’s 3,200 primary schools, 91% are still under the patronage of a local Catholic bishop.