Strong differences persist over school patronage

Strong differences persist about religious teaching and the dominance of church patrons in schools ahead of the publication of a major report on the issues in the coming weeks.

Education Minister Ruairi Quinn received the draft final report of the advisory group to his Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector before Christmas, but it may be after Easter before it is made public.

A key focus of the forum advisory group, chaired by former NUI Maynooth professor of education John Coolahan, was to find ways of allowing Catholic bishops hand over schools to other patrons in areas where there is little or no alternative provision.