CATHOLIC bishops have criticised the suggestion by Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn that 50 per cent of primary schools under their control could be transferred to other patrons.
Ahead of next week’s opening of the forum on school patronage, the bishops describe the Minister’s remarks as “very unhelpful”, as it suggests to those involved in Catholic schools that “they will be forced into change against their will. ”
This, they say, will not be the case. “We are not involved in social engineering but in the voluntary transfer of patronage where there is demonstrable demand for such. ”
The comments are made in a formal submission to the three-day forum, which begins on Wednesday at the Department of Education.
The submission is one of four from Catholic education groups. All signal that Catholic Church representatives will take a tougher line at the forum than that articulated by Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin when he first raised the patronage issue three years ago.
Dr Martin noted that 90 per cent of all Dublin primary schools were under his patronage, while the percentage of the population who actively wanted a Catholic education could be as low as 50 per cent.
In its submission, the Council for Education of the Irish Episcopal Conference insists that any change in the patronage of a given school must be negotiated locally. A decision to change patronage must be a voluntary operation involving all stakeholders, the council says.
In any case of a change of patronage of a Catholic school, provision will have to be made for the rights of Catholic parents and their children, it insists.
The bishops also play down the notion that they are being confrontational. “This forum and process are not a war but a mature reflection on schooling in our democratic society based on shared citizenship and a respect for plurality.”
In its submission, the Catholic Primary Schools Management Association argues it may not even be necessary to have a transfer of patronage. Consideration could be given to existing schools granting a licence to other providers to use part of the school premises. Catholic schools, it says, could assign a certain number of places pro rata for non-Catholics.
The Association of Trustees of Catholic Schools warns in its submission that “rushing headlong into a widespread divesting campaign . . . will be unlikely to yield a satisfactory outcome.”
All of the main groups that have made submissions to the forum will be cross-examined by an advisory panel chaired by Prof John Coolahan. The forum hopes to prepare a final report for the Minister by the end of the year.
At the April launch of the forum, Mr Quinn said about 50 per cent of the 3,000 Catholic primary schools in the State would be divested.
Fr Michael Drumm of the Catholic School Partnership has said a transfer figure of 10 per cent was more realistic.
Speaking at the launch of the forum in April, Mr Quinn said he believed “we should be ambitious about what we wish to achieve in this area.
“If we aim high, there is a greater chance of success. Am I doctrinaire or rigid about the 50 per cent figure? Absolutely not.”