The Catholic Schools Partnership

The Catholic Schools Partnership (CPS), an umbrella group providing support for all of the partners in Catholic schools in the Republic of Ireland, has reflected on many of the key issues facing all of the stakeholders in Irish schools at this time and presents this position paper to parents and students, to public representatives and civil servants, to patrons and trustees, to school staffs and management, to priests and parishes and, indeed, to all of our fellow citizens, as we look to a shared future in our democratic society.

The Postion Paper of the Catholic Schools Partnership

Video Presentation on the CPS Position Paper 

In the following video Fr Michael Drumm, Chairperson of the CPS, talks about the CPS Position Paper on Catholic Schools in the Republic of Ireland and answers the following questions:

(a) What it the Catholic Schools Partnership (CSP)?

(b) Why has the CPS launched a positoin paper on Catholic Schools in the Republic of Ireland?

(c) How many schools will the Catholic Church divest – is 50% the target?

(d) What are some of the challenges in changing the patronage body of a school?

(e) What sorts of consultations are being planned by the CPS on these issues?

(f) Where can people access the position paper?

(g) What is your response to the claim that too much class time is devoted to religious education?

Fr Michael Drumm, Chairperson of the CPS speaks about its work and answers the above questions

This paper is part of a process of consultation which the Catholic Schools Partnership is undertaking. It follows on the publication by the Irish Bishops’ Conference of:

• Catholic Primary Schools: A Policy for Provision into the Future (2007)
• Vision 08 – A Vision for Catholic Education in Ireland (2008)

More recently (August 2010) the Department of Education and Skills published data on stable demographic areas where the Catholic Patron might consider a change in patronage of some schools. In response to this the Catholic Schools Partnership has undertaken three steps:

1. further qualitative analysis of parental choice regarding schools;
2. the publication of this position paper and the invitation to individuals and organisations to respond;
3. internal consultation within the Church with parents, patrons, teachers, priests, pastoral councils, students, trustees and managers.

Invitation for reponses to Position Paper

The views of individuals or organisations on the issues analysed here and on how best to address the various challenges are welcome.

The Council of the Catholic Schools Partnership invited responses to this paper and will reflect on these in its deliberations on the nature, purpose and future of Catholic schools.

Responses were due to be submitted by 16 May 2011.

Regional Assemblies June 2011

The results of this consultation were analysed at four regional assemblies in June 2011 with representatives from dioceses.

The Catholic Schools Partnership will then present the findings of its research to the broader public. In this context the announcement (March 2011) by Mr Ruari Quinn TD, Minister for Education and Skills, of a forum on the future of Catholic patronage of primary schools is most timely.

Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector

On 19th April 2011 Minister Ruairí Quinn officially launched the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector.  

 The Minister called for submissions on a number of specific themes:

Details of these themes and of the arrangements for submissions are available on the Department’s website:

 Webpage of the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector

Fr Michael Drumm speaking at a Conference on Catholic Education

More on the Catholic Bishops’ Confernce Website – Education Page

(Material on this page is courtesy of the Communications Centre, Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference)