The Dublin Archdiocese has forcefully rejected accusations it is ‘sabotaging’ the divestment of Catholic primary schools. In practice, it says, local communities are often unwilling to see their local Catholic school switch to a new management body. In a pilot Department of Education scheme last year, involving 29 parts of the country and over 60 schools, only two opted for divestment.

Speaking in the Dáil last week, Labour spokesman on Education Aodhán Ó Ríordáin said “the archdiocese can press all the buttons it wants and then get what it wants, which is the status quo” and that “these processes are being set up to fail, not by the Minister, but by those with a vested interested in preserving the status quo”.

Other TDs echoed his comments.

In response, the Archdiocese released a statement saying that for some, the divestment process can only be judged a success “if school communities conform to the demands of others outside of their communities for change”.

The statement added: “This impatience [by some politicians and activists] can often become a desire to impose desired outcomes, regardless of local views. The Catholic patrons, as bishops and pastors, are not minded to simply impose solutions onto communities. Minister Foley and her Department are of the same view.”