The primary teachers' union, the INTO, has said the new Education Bill will for the first time allow for the recognition of non-denominational schools in the Republic of Ireland. Its general secretary, Senator Joe O'Toole, forecast the erosion of the control of the main churches over Irish primary education.
Mr O'Toole said that while the provision for non-denominational education was not explicitly stated in the Bill, "it is implicit from the arrangements for the recognition of patrons and boards of management".
"Until now the establishment of a national school required that it would have a religious complexion. This will no longer be necessary. Undoubtedly it will quickly lead to Ireland's first non-denominational primary schools which will join the current multi-denominational and religious schools."
Mr O'Toole said while this was a move towards liberalism, another forthcoming piece of legislation, the new Employment Equality Bill, was a move toward fundamentalism.
"The Equality Bill allows church schools to discriminate in favour of a teacher of its own religion where that is "reasonable" in order to protect its ethos or to prevent the undermining of it. This will encourage many minority religions and "born again" groups to set up their own schools. No doubt ethnic groups will give similar consideration to this opportunity."
Mr O'Toole said the Irish primary school system would become "many-faceted".
"This is bound to erode the influence and control of the main churches over primary education. In future parents will have the choice of a variety of schools for their children. Teachers will have a wider range of options in deciding the ambience in which they will work and new groups will join the ownership and management of primary schools."
The National Parents Council (Primary) said the appeals procedures set out in the Education Bill would not provide for the "basic civil right" to a fair and timely appeal."
The council added: "Parents and students around the country will undoubtedly be upset and angry that provisions for appeals are so weak and narrow."
"But the question most parents, and especially the parents of children with special needs, are asking is: `Will this Bill create an entitlement to services for my child?'
"There appear to be no clear entitlements in this Bill and no duty on the Minister to ensure that each student has access to an appropriate education and essential support services. Entitlement to provision is weakened by phrases such as `as far as practicable' and `having regard to the resources available'."
Regretting the scrapping of the proposed regional education boards, the NPC said "statutory provision for consultation with local people about the education plan for their area has now been replaced by centralised consultation with national bodies.
"The decision not to proceed with education boards is very disappointing to NPC (Primary) - a real opportunity for strategic change has been bypassed. We will be urging the Minister to amend the Bill to allow locally-based administration to be put in place and to make provision for local people to have a say in some form of local education plan.
The NPC warmly welcomed the Bill's provision for student councils in second level schools and the right of students to be provided with information in schools as "very important steps in education for democracy and civic responsibility".