Ireland

State to open pilot non-religious schools

The State's first two interdenominational national schools will be set up on a pilot basis in Dublin next year, Minister for …

Elaine Edwards
Thu Dec 13 2007 - 00:00

The State's first two interdenominational national schools will be set up on a pilot basis in Dublin next year, Minister for Education Mary Hanafin said today.

Ms Hanafin said the new model of community national school, under the patronage of Co Dublin Vocational Education Committee (VEC), will open in September 2008.

We believe that it is important to accommodate the rights and needs of people of different faith backgrounds, and of none, to an education which reflects, as far as possible, their sincerely held convictions and values
Bishop Leo O'Reilly, Irish Bishops' Conference

The new schools will be opened in the Phoenix Park and in Phibblestown, Dublin 15.

A further school, Scoil Choilm in Diswellstown, Dublin 15, which opened under the temporary patronage of the Catholic Church in September 2007, will move to the new community national school model after a two-year period, the Minister said.

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Ms Hanafin said about 95 per cent of the children in the Diswellstown school are not Catholic.

"The new schools will be open to children of all religions and none. They will be interdenominational in character, aiming to provide for religious education and faith formation during the school day for each of the main faith groups represented," she said.

The new model has been developed after consultation with the main education partners and church groups.

Speaking on RTÉ's News at One, Ms Hanafin said about 100,000 new children would come into primary schools over the next six to seven years, and that there would be a demand for diversity.

Bishop Leo O'Reilly, chair of the education commission of the Irish Bishops' Conference, welcomed the announcement.

"These schools are being provided at a critical time and will assure a wide variety of access to primary education in accordance with the wishes of parents. The Catholic Church welcomes choice and diversity within the national education system," he said.

"We believe that it is important to accommodate the rights and needs of people of different faith backgrounds, and of none, to an education which reflects, as far as possible, their sincerely held convictions and values."

He said the Catholic Church had a

"firm intention" to continue to provide Catholic schools and to establish new schools where there is need.