Changes to the management of primary schools are needed to address increasing social and religious diversity in Ireland, Minister for Education Mary Hanafin said today.
She confirmed today that a high-level forum will sit in June to consider issues centring on schools' ethos and approach to religious instruction with a view to ensuring inclusivity.
Participants will include religious organisations and representatives of boards of management, parents and educationalists, Ms Hanafin told the Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO) annual conference in Kilkenny.
The Minister highlighted the opening of three new multi-faith community primary schools in Dublin next September, saying they would "test approaches" to managing schools in a more diverse society.
Although most of the new schools in recent years have been non-denominational, these schools will accommodate a range of religious beliefs.
However, Ms Hanafin insisted: "The vast majority of primary schools are - and will continue to be - Catholic in ethos."
Fine Gael education spokesman Brian Hayes said a comprehensive debate on diversity in schools was needed rather than a "toothless conference".
The forum was welcomed by general secretary of the INTO John Carr but he criticised the level of consultation on the issue.
He said the new community national schools must not be institutions of last resort for parents who cannot otherwise find a place.
Today's Irish Independent reported that bishops wanted the right to monitor and approve Catholic instruction at multi-faith schools particularly in relation to preparation for the sacraments.
Mr Carr told the newspaper the union would oppose any veto on the appointment of teachers.
During her speech, Ms Hanafin acknowledged "major historical deficits" in provision for pupils with special needs but claimed major advances, including the creation in the past year of around 100 extra classes for autistic children.
She also committed to announcing a plan to implement the Education for Persons with Special Needs Act by October 2010.
The Act was a response to a series of legal actions by parents of children with special needs claiming their constitutional right to education was being denied by the State's failure to provide an adequate service.
On school buildings, Ms Hanafin told teachers that work would continue on improvements and extensions to but that the focus of investment was now moving towards larger-scale construction.
This week's annual conference is expected to reflect teachers' anger at the abandonment of the plan in the Programme for Government to reduce class sizes, especially as a report published yesterday said under-resourcing and overcrowding was hindering introduction of the new primary curriculum.
But Ms Hanafin told teachers that expenditure must take account of the economic climate.
Last week, she controversially announced there would be no additional funding for schools' computers beyond the €252 million allocated in the National Development Plan over the next seven years.
This was despite a leak from the expert group she commissioned on schools' information and communications technology showing the investment would not prevent Ireland continuing to lag most EU states.