Schools in Athlone and Ballinasloe to lose Catholic patronage

Athlone and Ballinasloe are among 47 towns across the country in which some primary schools could lose their Catholic patronage, it has emerged.

The news comes after The Advisory Group to the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in primary schools recommended in an interim report that the first phase in divesting schools should involve 258 schools across 47 areas including Athlone and Ballinasloe.

However, it's not clear how many - or which - schools in the two towns would be involved.

The 47 towns chosen are areas, identified by the Department of Education at the request of the bishops, where "there is a need for divesting to allow for diversity of schools".

The advisory group which published its recommendations last week also recommended a phased approach to the transfer of schools, rather than a "big bang" approach.

The group - established by Minister for Education, Ruairí Quinn - is scheduled to deliver a final report to the Mr Quinn before the end of the year.

Prof John Coolahan, a member of the group, said: "The forum is not aimed at designing a new primary school system, but adapting it to be more accommodating to the rights of contemporary citizens."

The forum heard 96 per cent of primary schools are under denominational patronage. About 3,000 of the 3,200 primary schools in the State are managed by the Catholic Church.

Previously, a Department of Education and Skills report published in August 2010 examined Athlone as one of a random sample of six towns from 43 areas which it had identified for a non or multi-denominational school.

The list of towns where a where a non or multi-denominational school is required was drawn up based on a number of criteria, including population size and a low likelihood that any other new school would be established here before 2016.

Under the criteria adopted, the Catholic school selected for divesting has to be within 5km of the Athlone Town boundary. 

The 14 schools within that radius are: Cornafulla NS, St Peter's NS, Summerhill NS, Dean Kelly, Ardkeenan (Drum), Clonbonny, Cornamaddy, Scoil Ciarain, Cloonakilla, St Paul's, Coosan NS, Ballybay Central (Kiltoom), Scoil na gCeithre Maistrí (gaelscoil), and St Mary's NS. There is only one non-Catholic school within this radius, Athlone NS Mixed which is Church of Ireland, but there are no multi-denominational schools.

No particular school listed above by the Department has been prioritised as a candidate for divesting. 

The Department has predicted that depending on current need, there could be anything from 414 pupils to 1,381 pupils seeking a non/multi denominational education.

This translates into a need for 15 to 49 classrooms, based on a 28:1 pupil teacher ratio. 

The figures are based on various percentages of the current student body (2,762 pupils in the 15 schools) opting for multi-denominational education from 15% (414) of the current student population to 25%, 30%, 40% or 50%.

The final decision as to which school or schools will be divested of Catholic patronage will be made by either the Bishop of Ardagh & Clonmacnoise or the Bishop of Elphin, depending on whether the selected school is in Roscommon or Westmeath.