Gilmore welcomes Archbishops's Education Forum initiative

Posted on June 17, 2009 at 12:29 PM

The speech made by the Archbishop of Dublin, Diarmuid Martin, where he said that it is no longer tenable to have the Catholic Church manage the vast majority of schools in the country, was raised today in the Dáil by Labour Leader Eamon Gilmore TD during Leaders' Questions.

Archbishop Martin suggested of the establishment of a National Forum on Education where discussions can take place over a period of time between the State, the Churches, the various educational interests, the various bodies who are currently patrons of schools or who wish to be patrons of schools and which can be open to hearing the views of the different stake holders in the education systems such as parents and teachers.

Deputy Gilmore called the forum suggestion 'progressive' and asked the Taoiseach if he would agree to set up such a forum.

"It would appear to me that Archbishop is far ahead of the Government. He was able to outline in some detail the details of ownership of schools and school properties which the Department of Education and Minister for Education were unable to provide in reply to a Dáil question which was tabled by Deputy Ruairi Quinn some weeks ago."

Tagged with Education