Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The problem is not religious schools but the preponderance of religious schools. At primary level, they account for more than 90% of schools. We can get fixated on teaching religion and on Catholic or Protestant schools, but there would be no issue if there was a much lower proportion of religious schools. At second level, for example, it is not as much of an issue because invariably there is choice and new schools follow the ETB model, which is what I suggest the Minister should consider to stop the unseemly fighting for patronage. That fight is not fair and is a waste of resources.

We must acknowledge that some people are put out by the fact that religion is taught in our current system. We can examine this matter. Deputy Boyd Barrett claims to know the position. He may well be right, but where education is concerned, we need to talk to everyone. That is just how the system works. Maybe we can change the system by legislating day in, day out and throwing new rules on top of people, but that would never work. The education partners will rise to the challenge and we will get something with which everyone agrees.

No one wants a full State-run education system. By and large, Catholic schools throughout the country have done a fantastic job, particularly at primary level, of accommodating diversity and immigrants.

Other schools simply do not want to do so. As Deputy Joan Burton says, it has to be acknowledged that they are there. There is no Catholic school in the country other than the small number that are oversubscribed that has refused anyone of any faith. The baptism barrier will be removed for the small number that are oversubscribed. The key for them is to provide for the provision. I would love to see a system in place where there was genuine diversity where it could be provided for by the State such that if somebody wanted to go to a religious school, he or she would not be threatened by Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett or Deputy Paul Murphy saying there should not be religious instruction in schools. At the same time, if a neighbour does not want to go to a religious school, there should be provision for him or her too. If that cannot be provided for in villages or the west in places where there is only one school, we should come to some compromise such as looking at having religion instruction outside class hours. We should look at this issue very carefully.

There is no issue with religious education in the United Kingdom. There are issues with bits and pieces of the rules, but Catholic schools, Protestant schools and Muslim schools are all accepted because they do not dominate the educational landscape. They do not comprise a figure of 90%. The number is much lower than it is here. There is diversity and the United Kingdom does not have these ideological debates all of the time. Perhaps it is necessary to have them when one church comprises a figure of 90%, but the focus in England is relentlessly on school funding, resources and buildings. That is where Dáil Éireann should focus as much time as possible.

See this speech in context