Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

The rapid pace of social and demographic change in Ireland is reflected in a radically altered and more diverse society from which our school communities are drawn. The vast majority of primary schools are, and will continue to be, Catholic in ethos. They have historically welcomed pupils from all backgrounds and still do. More recently, other models of patronage have emerged which have widened the range of choice available to parents. As the school system evolves, we must ensure that all our schools reflect and fully represent the communities in which they are based.

In that context, it is important that we develop a common vision of how existing and new models of patronage can collectively respond to future diverse demands for primary education. The new multi-faith community national school model that is to be piloted next September aims to meet a need for plurality of provision within the framework of the single-school setting.

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