TDs push back on plans touted by Helen McEntee to create more multi-denominational schools
Government TDs have pushed back on plans touted by Helen McEntee to create more multi-denominational schools.
Multiple backbenchers across Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are wary of 'overreach' and have questioned the need for what the Education Minister said will be 'greater choice' for parents.
One Fine Gael ministerial source said they were 'surprised' to see Ms McEntee bring forward the measure after facing sharp criticism for prioritising 'woke' policies, such as the failed hate speech legislation, as justice minister. Pic: Shutterstock
'I have no doubt she feels [school patronage] is an important issue, but maybe she is still leaning into that skid,' one minister said.
Almost 90% of primary schools in Ireland have a Catholic ethos. However, data from the Department of Education shows that the number of pupils being enrolled in Catholic schools is in decline since 2018, while 'enrolments in multi-denominational schools continue to rise steadily'.
Further research has found that the majority of teachers are in favour of separating the Church and schools.
A survey of members of the Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO) found that just 4% of teachers think preparing students for sacraments should be the responsibility of primary schools, while the majority (46%) were also against teaching religion.
Responding to the survey last week, the Education Minister announced that she would bring forward plans to create more multi-denominational schools. Helen McEntee. Pic: Eamonn Farrell/RollingNews.ie
'I think parents should have a choice as to where they send their child [to school], and whether their child will have their Communion, their Confirmation, or anything beyond that. And my objective as Education Minister is to make sure that parents have a choice,' Ms McEntee said.
According to a spokesperson for the Department of Education, there are 2,720 mainstream Catholic schools as of the 2024/2025 school year, and 172 primary schools with a multidenominational ethos.
The spokeswoman said: 'Minister McEntee has confirmed that she will set out a plan to ensure greater choice for parents regarding multi-denominational education in the coming weeks.'
But the pending proposals have already raised eyebrows within the Coalition. Ms McEntee's Fine Gael party colleague, Barry Ward, has said that he believes any further plans to divest schools of religious patronage would be 'bizarre'.
The Dún Laoghaire TD said that, under current State policy, the majority of new schools coming on stream are multi-denominational and fall under the umbrellas of Educate Together or the Education and Training Boards. Barry Ward. Pic: Facebook/Senator Barry Ward
He remarked: 'I have no doubt that plenty of people are unhappy with the level of choice in terms of schooling options – especially in sparsely populated areas… But if there is one school in a town and it is a Catholic school, it is probably because the majority of parents in the town are in favour of that. I think it would be bizarre to roll out a central diktat on a matter that should not be decided by the State or by teaching unions, but by parents and school boards.'
Mr Ward said that he is 'not aware of any school which is being blocked from divesting from a religious ethos', adding that he does not 'think the demand is there' to divest further schools.
This sentiment was echoed by Fianna Fáil TD Cathal Crowe, who was last week appointed chairman of the Oireachtas Committee on Education.
Mr Crowe pointed to a pilot programme launched in 2022 to explore divesting religion from schools in areas of cities that had no multi-denominational primary schools.
Four schools across eight pilot areas chose to divest their Catholic patronage and become multi-denominational. Cathal Crowe. Pic: Gareth Chaney/Collins
Mr Crowe, who was a teacher for 14 years, said his former school was polled as part of the pilot, but parents voted 'overwhelmingly' against divestment.
'We have seen that when asked, very few schools actually want to shed their Catholic patronage,' he said.
Mr Crowe acknowledged that the number of people classifying themselves as Catholic dropped to 69% in Census 2022.
'But anecdotal evidence would suggest parents are happy with their children attending schools of Catholic patronage… I just can't imagine any new proposals changing that. I think the status quo will prevail,' he added.
The Clare TD said that parishes 'do not have the resources' to take on the responsibility of providing sacraments and that he would be in favour of Communions and Confirmations being facilitated by schools. Pic: Maskot/Getty
In 2020, the previous coalition committed to 'achieve the target of at least 400 multi-denominational primary schools by 2030'.
However, there were only 169 multi-faith schools as of the end of last year. The new Programme for Government commits to 'increase choice for parents by ensuring that families can access both multi/non-denominational and faith-based education'.
Marian Harkin, the Regional Independent Minister of State in the Department of Higher Education and a former teacher, said she is not aware of any 'groundswell' to remove religious patronage.
'This isn't an issue that has been raised with me. That is not to say parents or teachers who want more multi-denominational schools, but I wouldn't say there has been a groundswell in people talking about it,' she said.
Ms Harkin said that funding was the main issue facing primary schools, and that it should be addressed as a matter of priority.
Pádraig O'Sullivan, Fianna Fáil TD for Cork, said that he believes the 'system as it stands provides plenty of choice'. He added: 'Any new plans must remain parent-led. We shouldn't overreach on this.'
One senior Government official said that it was their understanding that reducing the size of classrooms was the 'top priority' in the Department of Education.
It is understood that the new plans will be debated at the Fine Gael parliamentary party later this week.
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