Admission to Schools Bill - Reform comes with a price

NEW legislation on school enrolment consolidates religious authority in our schools and runs contrary to the objectives outlined by the last Minister for Education Ruairi Quinn — a reduction in the level of school patronage by the Catholic Church to something considerably less than the current 90%.

Not even the most ardent Catholic would suggest that this ratio reflects the reality of our society, a reality acknowledged by Archbishop Diarmuid Martin when he accepted that it would be better if fewer schools were controlled by Catholic patrons.

The Admission to Schools Bill states that there will be no discrimination on the grounds of religion but schools can still ask for a baptismal certificate on enrolment.