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Education Minister Ruairí Quinn has published a paper: Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector: Progress to Date and Future Directions.

The Report has found that despite the changed nature of Irish society with more people practising different religions and none, some 96% of all primary schools have religious patrons, with almost 90% of these under the patronage of the Catholic Church.

The Forum made a series of recommendations on issues which included:

• Future patronage arrangements;

• Divesting of patronage;

• Irish language provision; and

• Promoting inclusion of diversity in existing schools.

Minister Quinn said:

It is clear that there is no one size fits all approach to ensuring all schools are inclusive and welcoming. Our schools have a proud tradition of serving their communities and have made an enormous contribution to our society. Denominational patrons have been an important part of this and will continue to play a strong role in our education system. However, our schools can be busy places. There is a risk that we can overlook some fundamental rights to which pupils and their parents are entitled.

These issues may not be a pressing concern for parents who are happy with their children’s schools. This does not, however, release us from our responsibilities to make sure that schools are as welcoming and as inclusive as possible to all pupils of all backgrounds, beliefs and nationalities.

Read the full press release

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