Almost 300 primary schools should consider switching to multi-denominational

Hannah Kate Costello

Almost 300 primary schools across the country should consider switching from a Catholic patronage model to a multi-denominational model next year, according to Education and Training Boards Ireland, which analysed the Department of Education's Primary School Survey.

It says the recommended schools are those where parents and guardians show a majority preference for multi-denominational education.

The Department has notified all primary schools that they have until October 31st to decide whether they want to be included in the first group to explore the change.

A multi-denominational school is one run by a non-religious patron, such as Educate Together or Education and Training Boards, where children learn about all faiths and belief systems and not one single religion.

There are currently 172 multi-denominational primary schools in Ireland, just over 5 per cent of all primary schools in the State, according to a recent report in The Irish Times.

The vast majority of primary schools, some 88 per cent, are of Catholic patronage, while the remainder are of another religious ethos, mainly Church of Ireland.