A referendum aimed at removing public funding from denominational and other non-State schools [1] should be held, according to a leading educationalist.
Writing in the Irish Times yesterday, Professor of Education at DCU, Gerry McNamara said in the early 1990s the Newfoundland and Labrador government in Canada “put a referendum to the people effectively proposing to abolish denominational schools and limit the role of the churches in publicly-funded institutions”. After a hard-fought campaign the proposal was carried (by 55 per cent), but the resulting legislation was struck down in the State supreme court.
The government then introduced a tougher referendum “effectively removing all church power and influence from publicly-funded schools”. This was carried – (by 73 per cent) – and appeals against the enabling legislation were rejected in both the Newfoundland and Canadian supreme courts.
Applying this history to Ireland, Professor MacNamara mused: “Could something similar happen here? After the referendums of recent years and the remarkable changes in Irish society it is probable or certainly possible that such a proposal could pass. If it were to do so it seems unlikely that the Supreme Court would or could oppose the democratic wishes of the people.”
Many Western countries permit public funding of schools including Britain and the Netherlands.