A number of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael TDs are opposing the Education Minister’s push to convert Catholic schools to multi-denominational patronage, according to a report in the Daily Mail.

FG TD Barry Ward called the renewed push ‘bizarre’, saying if there is one school in a town and it is a Catholic school, it is probably because the majority of parents want it that way.

“I think it would be bizarre to roll out a central diktat on a matter that should not be decided by the State, or by teaching unions, but parents and school boards”.

He said he is not aware of any school being blocked from divesting of a religious ethos, adding that the demand is simply not there.

FF TD Cathal Crowe said that when asked, very few schools actually want to change patronage as parents tend to be happy with their children attending Catholic schools.

One Fine Gael ministerial source was quoted as saying he was ‘surprised’ to see Helen McEntee’s move after she faced sharp criticism for prioritising ‘woke’ policies, such as the failed hate speech legislation, as Justice Minister.