Christian Brothers to end direct involvement in schools

The Christian Brothers are reportedly setting up a new lay establishment to take over the running of 138 schools currently under the order's control.

Reports this morning said the Brothers were planning to hand over 29 primary schools and 109 secondary schools to the Edmund Rice Schools Trust, which will be run by entirely by lay people.

The move ends two centuries of direct involvement by the Christian Brothers in the Irish education system.

This morning's reports said a charter outlining the education and religious philosophy of the new trust would be launched in September.