The Minister for Education and Skills, Richard Bruton TD, announced new plans aimed at providing more multi-denominational and non-denominational schools across the country, in line with the choices of families and school communities.
The Programme for Government commits to increasing the number of multi-denominational and non-denominational schools with a view to reaching 400 by 2030. On current population growth trends, new schools will account for approximately one third of the additional multi-denominational schools required to hit this target, so transfers of existing schools from religious patronage will be required to hit the target.
(Following patronage processes which give significant weight to parental demand, the vast majority of new schools which are established come under multi-denominational patronage, and these processes will continue).
The new plans, which will provide additional multidenominational schools in either of the nation’s languages, will be implemented alongside the current process, which was commenced through the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism under previous Minister Quinn. That process identified a total of 28 areas where schools should be transferred through amalgamations and closures. This process will continue alongside the new process being announced today.
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