The Department of Education is conducting a national survey of parents to determine their preferences for their children’s education. This includes questions about school ethos, co-educational vs. single-sex schooling, and English vs. Irish medium education. The goal is to gather insights to guide efforts to encourage more Catholic schools to divest to multi-denominational patronage.
Minister Norma Foley emphasized the need for a “national conversation” on school ethos, with surveys launching in the next school year. As more than 90% of primary schools in Ireland are Catholic-run, efforts are being made to diversify, with a target of 400 multi-denominational schools by 2030.
A successful example of this transition is Paradise Place Educate Together National School in Dublin, which recently changed from Catholic to multi-denominational patronage. Parents, educators, and students are supportive of the inclusive environment, highlighting the importance of diversity in education.
Despite past initiatives like the National Forum on Patronage and Pluralism, challenges remain for non-Catholic families. The hope is that these new surveys will lead to meaningful change and address the needs of all children in the education system.