The
Minister for Education, Ruairi Quinn (pictured), has said that he is not “doctrinaire or
rigid” about his target of transferring 50 per cent of Catholic primary schools
to other patrons.

His
statement came after senior Church figures expressed alarm at the Minister’s
suggestion last month that half of its schools would change patrons under his
plans. Earlier this month, Fr Michael Drumm of the Catholic School Partnership
said a transfer figure of 10 per cent was more realistic.

Speaking
at the launch of the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector on
Tuesday, he repeated his belief that about 50 per cent of the 3,000 Catholic
primary schools in the State would change patronage, the Irish Times reports.

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”.

However,
he said:  “Am I doctrinaire or rigid about the 50 per cent figure? Absolutely
not.”

And
he added that everything would depend on local circumstances and demands.

Prof
John Coolahan, who chairs the advisory group to the forum, acknowledged the
fear among some communities “that the church and religion would be taken away”.

But
he said that the State was not trying to uproot or erode rights. The process
was about giving those of all faiths and none the same rights, he said.

Parents
and local communities will be consulted before any transfer takes place.

The
forum will aim to establish the level demand for schools with alternative
patronage and to work out the practicalities of the transfer of patronage.

The
Minister added that, in areas where there wasn’t sufficient demand to justify a
non-Catholic school, the rights of parents who wanted to withdraw their
children from faith formation during school hours needed to be addressed
“. 

Mr
Quinn, referring to his target of transferring 50 per cent of Catholic primary
schools to alternative patrons, said that Archbishop Diarmuid Martin had noted
that 90 per cent of all Dublin primary schools are under his patronage, while
the percentage of the population who actively want a Catholic education could
be as low as 50 per cent.

He
said that Prof Coolahan would examine arrangements for the delivery of
religious education in a way in which rights of all members of the school
community are acknowledged and respected.

Thirteen
groups – including school management bodies and the National Parents’ Council –
have been invited to make written submissions. These will be considered at a
three-day public session in late June. The public may also make submissions.

Each
of the main groups will be cross-examined. As the advisory panel is
independent, it will also question department officials about their priorities.
The group hopes to prepare a final report for the Minister by the end of the
year.