23 primary schools to switch from Catholic patronage

Twenty-three primary schools across the country are set to lose their Catholic Church patronage, with most likely to transfer to the multi-denominational Educate Together.

Tue, 02 Apr, 2013 - 09:21

Twenty-three primary schools across the country are set to lose their Catholic Church patronage, with most likely to transfer to the multi-denominational Educate Together.

The move follows Department of Education surveys of parents in 38 areas whose children were aged up to 12 years, as part of the drive to provide plurality and choice in the types of primary schools in Ireland.

Of those, 23 signalled a demand for change towards a more diverse choice of schools. Twenty-two of the areas will see the establishment of an English language multi-denominational school and one area will see an Irish language school established.

Parents expressed a preference for an Educate Together patron in 20 of the areas. The other two towns will see Community National Schools established, run by the local VEC. Thirty of the 38 areas surveyed already have a gaelscoil option available for parents.

The Catholic management of each of the schools will be given six months to provide proposals on how they plan to divest them.

The full report from the surveys is available here.

Area Survey outcomes:

Ballina Educate Together

Ballinasloe Insufficient demand

Bandon Insufficient demand

Birr An Foras Patrunachta

Buncrana Insufficient demand

Carrick-on-Suir Insufficient demand

Carrigaline Cork VEC

Celbridge Kildare VEC

Clonmel Educate Together