PARENTS OF children in Catholic primary schools back a continued strong role for the church in education, according to a new survey.
The survey from the Council for Research and Development of the Irish Bishops' Conference records the views of parents in primary schools in both the Republic and Northern Ireland.
Broadly, the survey finds strong support for Catholic education.
Some 63 per cent believe the church should continue to have a prominent role in the provision of primary schooling.
At present over 3,000 of the 3,200 primary schools in the Republic are controlled by the Catholic church.
Three new State-run community primary schools will open in September, but the question of faith formation in these schools has still to be resolved.
According to the survey, some 60 per cent of parents believe that the school's teachers should promote the religious life of the school.
Some 70 per cent said the religious education provided by the school is important.
A clear majority also believe that the Sacraments of First Holy Communion and Confirmation are best prepared for within the school.
Other key findings of this survey include:
• 98 per cent said they were aware when applying to enrol their child that the school choice was a Catholic school;
• 95 per cent were satisfied with their decision to send their child to the school they currently attend;
• 90 per cent of parents stated that the school their child was attending was their first choice;
• 81 per cent of parents agreed that they were sufficiently involved in their child's preparation for First Holy Communion;
• Between 76 per cent and 80 per cent of parents found it very easy to enrol their child;
• 48 per cent would choose a school under the management of a religious denomination.
In all, over 1,000 questionnaires were distributed to parents of school-going children - Irish and non-Irish nationals, North and South - across all 26 dioceses on the island.
Launching the report yesterday, Bishop Leo O'Reilly, chair of the Bishops' Commission for Education, said: "This is a timely report which explores a crucial issue for the future of education provision, namely factors determining school choice.
"This survey is the first time that the authentic voice of parents in the matter of school choice can be heard, and for this we are grateful to the respondents of the questionnaire."