Plan for more non-faith schools

Fresh efforts are being made to provide educational choice for more families following the Programme for Government plan for 400 non-religious schools.

The target for non-denominational and multi-denominational schools has been set for 2030, but the Department of Education has already had discussions with school patron bodies to reinvigorate the process begun by previous education minister Ruairi Quinn in 2011.

Only eight Catholic and Church of Ireland schools have so far divested their patronage to multi-denominational control.