Church and Education Dept meet over changes
Thursday, 12 November 2009 22:23
The Department of Education is to use its databases to identify parts of the country where the Catholic Church may agree to divest some of its primary schools.
Speaking after a meeting between Catholic School Patrons and department officials, Bishop Leo O'Reilly said the process of transferring Catholic schools to another form of patronage would have to be parent-led with respect for parental choice.
He said the Department of Education has a lot of information in its databases, especially in new developing areas, and they had agreed to share that information with the Catholic Church.
He said the process would not happen overnight but would happen as speedily as possible.
He said the Catholic hierarchy had no application from any Catholic school looking for a change of patronage and he said the church's commitment to providing Catholic education was not in question.
Bishop Leo O'Reilly is Chair of the Irish Episcopal Commision on Education.
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