THE ESTABLISHMENT of non-denominational schools was “never an issue in recent years” at the Department of Education, secretary general Brigid McManus told the forum.
She said being “non-denominational was no block” to the setting up of schools.
Ms McManus was responding to a question from Prof John Coolahan, chair of the advisory group which questioned all stakeholders at the forum.
He asked whether it was “permissible to establish a non-denominational school now”.
She said in discussions with the department, Catholic Church authorities had indicated “three or four” areas in the State where it would consider divesting patronage to another body. She felt, however, this process had possibly been stalled by the existence of the forum itself.
The department had “spoken of all options to the bishops”, she said, and gave an example of where there might be two Catholic schools in a parish, it might be easier to amalgamate these into one, making the other available for an alternative patron.
Paul Rowe of Educate Together was quoted in an article yesterday as having told the forum that “very, very few people in Ireland want their children educated in an environment without a belief system”.
What he said was that very few “were seeking an education for their children in which there is no mention at all of religious beliefs and culture”.
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