40 areas picked for Church to hand over school control [Independent.ie]
- Published: 29 July 2010
THE Department of Education has pinpointed more than 40 areas around the country where it believes a number of Catholic Church-run primary schools could be handed over to be run by another patron.
The department has written to senior bishops stating why it might be appropriate for the church to cede control there.
The Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Diarmuid Martin, and chair of the Bishops' Commission for Education, Bishop Leo O'Reilly, were among those who received the letter.
The department has based its figures on a number of criteria, such as a stable population and the number of Catholic schools in the area.
It has not released the list. However, the Irish Independent has learned it is to be split between Dublin and others parts of the country, including Tramore, Co Waterford; Killarney, Co Kerry; Athlone, Co Westmeath; and Ballinasloe, Co Galway. Earlier this year, only 10 areas were under consideration by the department, but that number grew to 40, giving the church greater choice.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
