Archbishop warns on schools' ethos

The State should not undermine the contribution of church schools by diluting their intake beyond recognition in order to cope with increased immigration, the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin has said.

Dr John Neill said there was considerable pressure on Church of Ireland schools in Balbriggan, Swords, Lucan and in other parts of the country because of expanding demand.

"It is sometimes suggested that we should encourage our schools to grow, taking in one or two extra streams to accommodate those of other traditions. In a small school this can undermine what that school really is - a school with a distinctive ethos," he warned.

Dr Neill said it was up to the Department of Education and not the churches to provide for those who were looking for non-denominational education and schools of other religions. He stressed that the 200 Church of Ireland primary schools in the State were not run solely for members of the church, but their first priority was to serve the local parish.

In his annual presidential address to the Dublin and Glendalough Diocesan Synod in Dundrum, he said the Church of Ireland had never said that the ethos of a school depended on all pupils belonging to the church, but "we have to recognise that a substantial number must in order to make the ethos in any way a meaningful one".

Dr Neill told the synod that the family reunification of immigrants, where a spouse is often prevented by the State from coming or staying in Ireland, was a "major issue" that needed to be addressed through primary and not secondary legislation.