The following motion was moved by Deputy Jen Cummins on Thursday, 8 May 2025:
That Dáil Éireann:
notes that:
— more than 90 per cent of Irish primary schools are under religious patronage, while only 5 per cent are multi-denominational;
— a survey by the Irish National Teachers' Organisation found that just 4 per cent of teachers think preparing students for sacraments should be the responsibility of primary schools, while more than two fifths believe that faith formation should not take place at all during school hours;
— the Programme for Government: Our Shared Future of the 33rd Dáil, contained a target of at least 400 multi-denominational primary schools by 2030, "to improve parental choice";
— in reality, there are approximately just 170 such schools, with only 20 changing from a religious to a multi-denominational ethos over the past decade; and
— "Securing Ireland's Future", the current Programme for Government, contains no target at all on multi-denominational schools;
further notes that:
— the previous Government had committed to holding a Citizens' Assembly on the future of education; and
— the current Government has downgraded this commitment and has pledged to hold a "national convention";
regrets that:
— despite successive Governments stated commitments to educational pluralism, the vast majority of schools remain under religious patronage, even as demand for multi-denominational options grows;
— the Government's Schools Reconfiguration for Diversity process lacks transparency, ambition, and community empowerment;
— patronage divestment is stalling due to poor community engagement, lack of clarity in the process, and no obligation on patrons to cooperate; and
— schools wishing to reconfigure face financial disincentives and logistical hurdles, creating systemic inertia;
recognises that:
— these ongoing delays directly undermine parental choice and the constitutional right to freedom of religion; and
— without decisive action, the goal of a pluralistic, inclusive education system will remain aspirational; and
calls on the Government to:
— reinstate the abandoned commitment to have 400 multi-denominational schools by 2030;
— adopt a policy that all new schools are opened under non-religious patronage;
— remove "faith formation" from the school day, with it to take place outside of school hours in line with the families beliefs;
— create a clear and independent mechanism for patronage change, via the establishment of a statutory framework for changing school patronage, with independent oversight to avoid conflicts of interest by existing patrons;
— repeal section 37.1 of the Employment Equality Act 1998, so teachers cannot face religious discrimination; and
— establish a Citizens' Assembly to make recommendations on the future of the education system, including how it might better reflect and serve a more modern, inclusive and diverse Ireland.
Debate resumed on amendment No. 1:
To delete all words after "Dail Éireann" and substitute the following:
"notes that:
— the Government recognises the importance of parental choice; and
— the Government is committed to seeking to increase choice for parents by ensuring that families can access both multi/non-denominational and faith-based education, in line with the Programme for Government commitment;
further notes that:
— enrolments in mainstream multi-denominational and inter-denominational primary schools rose by 87.5 per cent (from 23,721 to 44,476) over the 10-year period from 2013/14 to 2023/24;
— there are 172 primary schools with a multi-denominational or inter-denominational ethos (2024/25 school year), this includes 32 multi-denominational primary schools which transferred patronage and/or changed ethos to multi-denominational and schools established under the patronage divesting process;
— 51 of the 52 new primary schools established to cater for increased demographic demand since 2011 have a multi-denominational ethos;
— the Programme for Government, includes a commitment to 'increase choice for parents by ensuring that families can access both multi/non-denominational and faith-based education';
— as part of delivering on the Programme for Government commitment, the Minister for Education and Youth has indicated that she intends to launch an online school specific survey of parents and school communities on what type of education they would like to see for their child and their school;
— in tandem with the proposed survey, the Department of Education and Youth will be providing clear information for parents and guardians to enable them to make an informed decision in relation to the different types of primary school patronage options;
— denominational schools have played an important role in primary education in Ireland for over a century, and they, along with other primary schools, have a strong history of inclusivity in serving their local communities and accept children of all faiths and none;
— under the Constitution, the provisions of article 44 recognise the rights of children to attend school without attending religious instruction at that school, the Education Act 1998 also provides that a school shall not require a student to attend instruction in any subject which is contrary to the conscience of the parent/guardian of the student or in the case of a student who has reached the age of 18 years, the student;
— for historical reasons, most primary schools are State-aided parish schools, with the local Bishop as patron;
— it is recognised, including by the Catholic patrons, that more diverse provision is required to cater for our changing society;
— the Schools Reconfiguration for Diversity process has been developed in order to accelerate the delivery of multi-denominational schools, and this process supports transfers of schools to multi-denominational patrons, in response to the wishes of local communities;
— when a school transfers from the patronage of one patron to another, the school remains open with the same roll number, operating from the same school property and with the same school staff and pupils;
— all State-funded primary schools follow a common national curriculum and are subject to the same Department rules and regulations;
— the Programme for Government commits to holding a convention bringing together all stakeholders in education; and
— nationally, at post-primary level, 48.6 per cent of students are enrolled in multi-denominational or inter-denominational schools, 47.6 per cent are enrolled in schools with a Catholic ethos and 2.9 per cent are enrolled in schools with a Church of Ireland ethos, and the remaining 0.9 per cent is accounted for by post-primary schools with an ethos other than Catholic, Church of Ireland, inter-denominational or multi-denominational; and
calls on the Government to:
— take any necessary steps to ensure that patronage transfers are facilitated, where parents and school communities support this;
— establish the level of parental demand for the primary school their children attend now or will attend in the future to change to a multi-denominational ethos by commencing the planned survey of primary school communities;
— continue to progress the reconfiguration process, with the goal of establishing a strong process, that has the support of patrons and local communities, and which will enable us to continue to increase the number of multi-denominational primary schools across the country;
— ensure that the Department of Education and Youth continues to engage with key stakeholders on the reconfiguration process; and
— continue to support school communities when schools are transferring patronage.".
- (Minister for Education and Youth)
I must now deal with a postponed division relating to the motion regarding parental choice in education. On Thursday, 8 May, on the question, "That the amendment to the motion be agreed to", a division was claimed and in accordance with Standing Order 85(2), that division must be taken now.
Amendment put:
The Dáil divided: Tá, 84; Níl, 65; Staon, 0.
Tellers: Tá, Deputies Mary Butler and Emer Currie; Níl, Deputies Jen Cummins and Cian O'Callaghan.
Amendment declared carried.
Question put: "That the motion, as amended, be agreed to."
The Dáil divided: Tá, 87; Níl, 62; Staon, 0.
Tellers: Tá, Deputies Mary Butler and Emer Currie; Níl, Deputies Jen Cummins and Cian O'Callaghan.
Question declared carried.