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Tanaiste fails first test as Minister for Education

Issued : Wednesday 28 July, 2010

The creation of a new Second-Level Patronage Advisory Group to consider applications for new secondary schools is a symptom of procrastination, paralysis and political cowardice by the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills, Mary Coughlan TD.

The Minister has, like her predecessors, deliberately avoided making a decision on the recognition of Educate Together as a second level patron. The VEC sector and the Roman Catholic Church are opposed to the development of multi-denominational education in our secondary schools. The Minister is too afraid to challenge these interests and alter the status quo.
At present, the provision of multi-denominational education at secondary level is unavailable to parents. It is simply unacceptable for parents to be denied their constitutional right to educate their children in accordance with their preferred ethos.
Fianna Fail has been in government for too long and it is incapable of driving educational reform, particularly with regard to patronage.
The Tánaiste recently ruled out holding a National Forum on Patronage in Primary Schools. Now she is refusing to review patronage at second level.
Today’s announcement shows that the full time officials in the Department of Education have colonised the Ministers. In turn, the Ministers see themselves as part of that system dependent on the ‘expertise’ and the support which the permanent public service provide. This is holding up much needed reform of our education system.
Labour is committed to recognising Educate Together as a patron at second level and it will be a priority if we are elected to government.