THE Department of Education's refusal to recognise seven new gaelscoileanna is an attack on pluralism in education, according to Educate Together.
The co-ordinating body for multi denominational schools said the change in the rules for new national schools "completely negates the current discussions of the Commission on School Accommodation Needs, on which Educate Together is represented.
"This commission is charged with reviewing the requirements for the opening of schools and the rationalisation of existing schools with declining school numbers. It is completely unacceptable for the Minister to arbitrarily preempt these discussions by imposing new restrictions on the opening of new schools.
In refusing the applications, the Department changed the way it interpreted a 20 pupil enrolment rule the new all Irish schools. Up to now the schools were given two years to reach the threshold now they must reach it in one.
Said Educate Together. "It is particularly objectionable that this decision is aimed at one of the two growing sectors in the national school system and will inevitably reduce the choice, in terms of ethos, of national schools available to parents.
"This is completely at variance with the stated aims of the White Paper on Education that devotes many acres of print to lauding the principles of increasing pluralism and diversity of choice within the educational system.
"Furthermore, these new conditions directly discriminate against the rights of parents in outlying and rural areas by further restricting the possibility of choice for families living, outside the main urban centres.
The parents' committee for Gaelscoil Bharra in Cabra, Dublin one of the schools given urged the Minister to rethink her decision. "We believe that all parents, as the primary educators of their children, have the right to choose the type of education they want for their children.
"We also believe that all our children have the right to their language and culture. In denying them these rights the Minister is going against everything she has said about the role of parents in education, the Irish language and pluralism in our society."
Comhdhail Naisiunta na Gaeilge said it was ironic that the refusal came at a time when Michelle Smith, educated in a Dublin gaelscoil, had done so much to promote a positive image for Irish.
"There is much between the positive role model for the Irish language presented by Michelle Smith and the begrudging and shameful way in which the Minister and her Department are treating parents and communities."