The largest teaching order in the State is planning to significantly reduce its role in primary and second-level schools because of a dramatic fall in vocations.
The Sisters of Mercy, who control over 150 primary and more than 100 second-level schools, are planning to set up new structures involving lay people. The order has been engaged in education since the 1820s.
"It is no longer necessary for the religious orders to be in education in the way they are now, to ensure the Catholic ethos is continued," Sister Canice Hanrahan, spokeswoman for the order, said last night.
She said a panel of like-minded lay people would be selected as trustees and could continue the sisters' ethos, which was based on "gospel values".
However, she strongly emphasised that the order was not withdrawing from education, but had to recognise that with falling numbers its position as sole trustee of the schools could not continue.
She said the reduction in its role would allow the order to concentrate on tackling disadvantage and social exclusion. The order prides itself on providing education for the poor.
"Before the State was set up there was little education for Catholics, so orders like ours filled the gap, but the whole situation has changed now," said Sister Canice. At present the sisters are the sole trustees of the schools. The new trusts could operate on a regional structure, and other orders might combine with them.
Sister Canice said the order was in "dialogue" with all its schools about the changes, and they were aware of the options being examined.
She said agreement still needed to be reached on the exact model for the future, but the decision would be based on consensus.
It was not possible to say how long final agreement would take, but it would be lengthy because consensus was required.
The decision by the order follows moves by the Holy Ghost Fathers to reduce their role in education.
In submissions to the Conference of Religious in Ireland many orders are considering their future in education.
In the last decade there have been more than 12 times as many retirements of religious from teaching as there have been entries, according to Dr Teresa McCormack, director of CORI's education office.
Thirty years ago 2,300 religious were working in second-level schools in the Republic, about 34 per cent of the teaching force. By 1997 the religious accounted for just 6 per cent, Dr McCormack pointed out.
"While the Mercy congregation's involvement is still quite extensive there are fewer sisters directly involved in mainstream education," said Sister Canice.
"We are no longer physically able to continue as trustees in the way we did. For example, the age profile of the order is a factor in this."
She said the order would work with CORI in choosing the final model. Some members of the order were concerned about the changes, but they all accepted substantial change was inevitable.
Dr McCormack said the religious orders in education now faced two challenges: the need to develop new structures to take over the trusteeship of schools currently held by congregations, and the need to find ways of responding to the education requirements of the poor and marginalised and influencing the education system as a whole.
The Jesuits, who control wellknown schools such as Belvedere and Clongowes Wood Colleges, have said they will retain their central role in education.
Three months ago the Holy Ghost Fathers, who control Blackrock and St Michael's Colleges, signalled their intention to scale back their role in education. The Mercy congregation is also involved in a number of schools and educational projects around the world, including South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Zambia and the US.