Dublin parent groups call for more non-religious schools

Dublin-based parent advocacy groups — Educate D8, Killester Raheny Clontarf (KRC) School Campaign, and Meakstown School Campaign – are campaigning for more non-religious schools.

The groups have expressed “deep disappointment and alarm” following confirmation from the Department of Education that no new schools of any type, other than special schools, are currently planned up to at least 2032.

The groups, a coalition of parents and educators from both the Northside and Southside, have demanded answers from the Department after they confirmed that there were “no plans” for new mainstream schools of any model or patronage.

Paddy Monahan, Social Democrats Councillor for Donaghmede and spokesperson for the Educate D8, KRC and Meakstown campaigns, said the decision “flies in the face of the stated government policy to provide school choice.”

Monahan noted that the Department of Education’s official brief is to “reflect the societal changes we have seen in modern, progressive Ireland,” but expressed cynicism that it’s nothing more than government press release speak.

“In our areas, there is both huge demand and demographic need for new secondary schools. Specifically, parents want non-religious schools that boys and girls can attend together – this reflects the diverse populations and forward-thinking outlook of our areas.”

“The Minister must reconsider her approach to the provision of new secondary schools in areas such as ours where they are desperately needed,” he said.

In a statement, the group noted they are representing families in predominantly working-class urban communities, yet they feel they are being ignored by the Department.

The group noted that across Dublin 8, all existing secondary schools are under religious patronage, a statistic they state “does not reflect the demographics of the communities they serve.”

They argue that it is now Department policy to “outsource” responsibility for patronage reform to school patrons and parent-led campaigns.

“Communities have been left to navigate complex, divisive processes to try to achieve change,” they noted, but progress to date has been “limited and inconsistent.”

They warned that as a result of Department policy, there will be no “meaningful opportunity” to diversify school models, and it will only exacerbate “existing mismatches between school ethos and community identity.”

“Urban areas will continue to face a structural inequity in access to inclusive, representative education,” they said.

The three campaigns are calling on the Minister for Education to “urgently review” the decision to halt new school planning, and “recognise localised need in growing urban communities.”

They are also calling for a commitment for new school provisions in what they call “under-served areas.”

Educate D8 conducted research on the lack of secondary school places.

The group noted that fewer than 4 in 10 children attend secondary school locally, and all existing schools operate under religious patronage.

Despite the religious dominance of local schools, Census statistics show that over 60% of the population does not identify as Catholic.

Further findings from the group reveal that Dublin 8 students have among the longest commutes to secondary school in Dublin.

Research from the Meakstown School Campaign paints a similar picture.

The area has one of the youngest age profiles in the country, with 22% of residents under 15 and 50% of the population under 35

The community has a significant amount of non-Irish residents (roughly 40%, per the Meakstown School Group) and has a minority Catholic population.

Despite the demographics showing clear demand for a non-religious school, the Department of Education does not run a secular school in the area. 

Research conducted by Killester Raheny Clontarf School Planning Area (KRCSPA) found a similar demographic shift in their area.

Across the broad area, there are seven secondary schools in the KRCSPA – all are religious, and five are single-sex schools. 

74% of the KRCSPA’s respondents wanted a mixed secondary school for boys and girls, while 59% wanted a non-religious secondary school.

Just 5% those polled by the KRCSPA wanted a religious-run, single-sex secondary school for their children.

Irreligion in Ireland has become an issue that has seemingly blindsided the Department of Education and other government departments.

186,000 people identified as not religious in the 2006 Census, with that figure rising to 736,000 in the 2022 Census.

The rise of Educate Together schools can be read as a response to the rise of irreligion in Ireland, but parents’ groups have expressed something clearer; they want a separation of church and state when it comes to education matters.