Bishop seeks to diffuse school enrolments row

The Bishop of Cork and Ross John Buckley has invited the boards of management of three Cork city schools to a meeting to try to diffuse the row over plans by one of the schools to start enrolling junior infants.

In recent days Scoil Mhuire Fatima North Monastery has been criticised by two other schools, North Presentation and St Vincent’s, for its decision to expand beyond its policy of enrolling boys from second to sixth classes only.

The plan does not have the required approval of school patron Catholic bishop, John Buckley. He has now said he wants to get the sides together and that he will recommend to the Department of Education any proposal which has the support of all three schools.

North Presentation primary school, which has 70 boys in classes up to first class, stands to lose most if male pupils start school elsewhere. It has said the move by Scoil Mhuire Fatima “has the potential to undermine many years of co-operation and be detrimental to the children”.

St Vincent’s Primary School said the proposal was “a betrayal of the trust and co-operation that existed between all the schools in the parish for many years”.

Last night, a spokesman for Bishop Buckley confirmed the invite to talks has been extended to all three boards of management.

“Bishop Buckley is very concerned about the future of Catholic education in the parish,” the spokesman said. “He has spoken to the three trustees already but feels it is important the boards of management would engage on the issue.”

The spokesman said the bishop had indicated that one school cannot unilaterally change the enrolment policies of the parish.

“He is very anxious that the spirit of co-operation would remain between the three schools and he would be very willing to recommend to the minister any proposal that has the support of the three boards of management,” he said. “The bishop appreciates and agrees with the sentiments expressed by the lord mayor in today’s Irish Examiner.”

Yesterday, the Lord Mayor Catherine Clancy urged parents and management at Scoil Mhuire Fatima to discuss any changes with the other schools and said “you don’t want enemies”.