A significant shift in parental attitudes toward primary education is emerging in Ireland, with roughly 40% of parents whose children attend religious primary schools stating they would prefer a multi-denominational environment.
The findings, released by the Department of Education and Youth, follow a massive national survey conducted late last year. The data suggests a growing appetite for a move away from the traditional religious ethos that has long defined the state’s primary education system, where Catholic schools currently account for more than 90% of all primary schools nationwide.
The scale of the survey was substantial, with 493,000 households eligible to participate. In what the department described as an exceptionally high level of engagement, more than 41% of those households responded. To ensure statistical reliability, the department used a rigorous validation process involving Eircodes to verify that responses came from eligible households with primary or pre-school children.
Of the 241,301 total submissions received, 200,381 were approved after validation. The department noted that the majority of the 40,920 ineligible entries were duplicate submissions or Eircodes that could not be linked to households with young children.
Regional Variations in School Ethos Preferences
While the national average sits at 40%, the desire for multi-denominational schools varies significantly across different counties. The appetite for change is most pronounced in the east and south, while more traditional preferences remain steady in certain northern and midland regions.
In Wicklow, nearly half of the parents in religious-ethos schools expressed a preference for multi-denominational education. Other counties showing the highest demand for change include Dublin, Cork, Kildare and Waterford, where preferences ranged between 44% and 45%.
Conversely, the lowest appetite for a change in ethos was recorded in Counties Donegal, Longford, and Monaghan, where approximately 30% of parents in religious schools indicated a preference for a multi-denominational alternative.
Beyond Ethos: Co-education and Language
The survey expanded beyond religious affiliation to gauge preferences on school structure and language of instruction. The results indicate a strong lean toward integrated learning environments and a modest interest in increased Irish-language immersion.
In the 276 single-sex primary schools across the country, a striking 73% of parents favor a transition to co-education. 13% of parents whose children currently attend English-medium schools stated they would prefer their children to be educated through Irish.
| Category | Preference/Finding |
|---|---|
| Religious Ethos | ~40% prefer multi-denominational |
| School Structure | 73% of single-sex school parents favor co-education |
| Language | 13% of English-medium parents prefer Irish |
| Catholic Dominance | Over 90% of primary schools are Catholic |
The Path Toward School Divestment
The Department of Education and Youth has emphasized that these aggregate figures provide a national overview, but the actual future direction of any specific institution will be determined by the preferences within that individual school. To facilitate this, detailed reports will be issued to more than 3,200 participating schools in the coming weeks.
According to the department, “These reports will support patrons, boards of Management, staff and parents in considering next steps and their future direction.” These school-specific documents will include data on both currently enrolled pupils and the preferences of incoming parents.
As part of this transition, the department announced it will soon begin consultations with key stakeholders to establish best-practice guidance for schools where parents request that their children be exempt from religious instruction.
Union Pressure and the Call for Full Transparency
The release of the data has been met with a mixed response from the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO). While the findings are critical, the union has criticized the timeline of the release, suggesting the length of time taken to publish the aggregate parental responses “left much to be desired.”
The INTO is now calling on Minister for Education Hildegarde Naughton to release the remaining data from the survey—specifically the findings from primary school staff and members of school boards of management. The union argues that without the full dataset, tangible progress toward providing more choice for school communities is unlikely to happen quickly.
This tension comes as the INTO continues to campaign for the accelerated divestment of schools from Catholic patronage. The union has as well advocated for the repeal of legislation that allows schools to discriminate against teachers and staff on religious grounds, a position adopted at its annual congress last year.
The next confirmed step in this process is the distribution of the school-specific reports to the 3,200 participating institutions, which will provide the granular data necessary for boards of management to begin formal discussions on patronage and ethos changes.
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