A comprehensive and wide-ranging debate on the issue of school patronage is needed across Galway city and county, according to Fine Gael Seanad spokesperson on education Senator Fidelma Healy Eames.
The comment follows the recent publication by Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills Mary Coughlan, of a list of areas, including Ballinasloe, that could be looked at initially and that may offer potential for the Church to divest itself of patronage of certain primary schools. While welcoming the publication, the council for education of the Irish Bishops’ Conference moved to allay potential fears by stressing that there were no imminent plans for closures or significant changes in patronage. The Catholic bishops further explained that no changes will be made until an extensive consultation process is undertaken with parents.
Senator Healy Eames said this week, “The issue of school patronage is a complex one that we must examine carefully so that we can ensure the educational needs of all communities are, and continue to be, adequately met for future generations”.
“Minister Coughlan recently indicated, at a meeting I attended, that she would come to a decision regarding patronage in September. I believe this is too soon since some of the most important partners in the education process, the parents, have yet to be consulted in a comprehensive way.
“Recent reports that the Catholic Church favours patronage in new developing areas and is prepared to relinquish patronage in others, also raises serious questions. Does this mean the Church sees itself as having a role in new developing areas such as Doughiska in Galway but is prepared to give up patronage in areas like Ballinasloe? This is a worrying development.
“I was delighted to learn that the Catholic Church saw a need for more qualitative study to gauge parents’ views before final decisions are made. We need clarity and accuracy as to what exactly is going on behind the scenes.
The possibility of the Catholic Church divesting itself of certain primary schools was raised by the Church at a meeting in November 2009. At the request of senior Church representatives the department undertook to identify possible areas where change of patronage could be considered.
The department examined 10 areas of relatively stable demographics where the establishment of new schools is unlikely to emerge in the foreseeable future and where the provision is exclusively Catholic, or where there is very limited diversity of provision at present. Four areas are in Dublin while other areas include Ballinasloe, Co Galway, Athlone, Co Westmeath, Birr, Co Offaly, Killarney, Co Kerry, Tramore, Co Waterford, and Arklow, Co Wicklow. The six areas outside Dublin were selected at random from a longer list of 43 towns. The bishops have stressed that no particular school listed on the department’s documentation was being prioritised as a candidate for divesting.
