The head of Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) has called on the new government to establish an open forum to tackle the issue of school patronage.

Sheila Nunan, the general secretary of the union, suggested that the forum could be set up this month, begin its work in September and be finished by the end of the year

The union first called for a forum in 2006, which it said would allow all education partners to discuss and debate the future control of schools.

Last week the Catholic Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Diarmuid Martin, patron of the largest number of primary schools in the country, reiterated his support for a forum and criticised the Government for its slowness in dealing with change.

Both Fine Gael and Labour, prospective partners in Government, have supported calls for a national forum on education to discuss the issue of school patronage.

The union has previously accused faith schools of being socially divisive, in spite of government figures showing that Catholic schools have the best record of inclusion, when compared to schools with other patrons.

In 2008, a Department of Education audit found that Catholic primary schools topped the table for social inclusion.

The figures showed that Catholic primary schools were more likely to enrol children from the traveller community, from non-Irish backgrounds and children with special needs than other denominational and multidenominational schools.

The union also wants to see the repeal of section 37 of the Employment Equality Act, which allows religious organisations, including schools to hire teachers according to their ethos.