THE MINISTER FOR Education has launched a forum on the future of Irish primary schools and their patronage.

The forum has been established to enable greater pluralism in the governance of schools. Parents, teachers and the patrons of schools are being asked to submit their views on the need for diversity and how the transfer of patronage might be managed. An advisory group will report back to Ruairi Quinn in the Autumn.

Last month the Catholic Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin welcomed the establishment of the forum and calls for action on school patronage, while church leaders asked that it be a slow process.

Quinn, who recently said that religious instruction “wastes” class time, said at the launch of the forum that there is “an increased demand for new forms of multi-denominational and non-denominational schooling”. He reminded those in attendance at today’s launch that:

For nearly two centuries, 95 per cent of education provision at primary level has been denominational, largely under the patronages of the Christian Churches.

He says that Ireland is indebted to the Churches, but has welcomed new patron bodies such as Educate Together, VECs and the Muslim community.

A survey in 2007 indicated that the percentage of population who want a Catholic education could be as low as 50 per cent.

The IVEA, which represents vocational educational committees, has welcomed the launch of the forum. General Secretary Michael Moriarty says:

State schools can provide quality education in as cost effective manner as possible. These schools provide an opportunity for the State to prepare children for the new multicultural Ireland.