Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 June 2015
740. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the existence of a religious ethos in education; her further views that this has a negative impact on employment equality in education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23788/15]
View answerWhile our system of patronage has demonstrated a capacity to facilitate change and evolution, it is the case that the vast majority of primary schools are still under religious patronage. While recognising the role that denominational schools have played in welcoming children from diverse backgrounds and the continuing role for denominational schools, we have made changes to the patronage system with the model of provision for new schools being reflective of parental demand for the types of schools they want to send their children to. We are also making progress under the patronage divesting process, with five schools divested to from denominational patronage between 2013 and 2014, and a further four to divest patronage in September 2015.
The Deputy will be aware that the Programme for Government gives a commitment to move towards a more pluralist system of patronage for our schools. In this context, the Minister established a Forum on Patronage and Pluralism which, among other issues, made recommendations as to how all primary schools can cater for the diverse range of beliefs and nationalities that are now an intrinsic part of Irish society. Details of the outcome of the work of the Forum are published on the Department's website.
The Programme for Government also contains a commitment that "People of non-faith or minority religious backgrounds and publicly identified LGBT people should not be deterred from training or taking up employment as teachers in the state."
In this regard, the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) designate was asked to undertake a public consultation and examine the issues involved in relation to amending Section 37 of the Employment Equality Acts 1998 - 2011. The Commission forwarded legal advice it had obtained as well as the options it had considered. These have been considered by the Attorney General's Office.
My colleague the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform will bring forward the necessary amendments to the legislation.
