Quinn: Parents don't want to 'hypocritically' baptise kids for school (four new schools to be multi-faith)
Education Minister Ruairi Quinn has announced that four Christian primary schools will be replaced by multi-faith institutions this year.
Ruairi Quinn said new Educate Together schools will open in Tramore (Co Waterford), Trim (Meath) and Malahide (Dublin) this September, after patronage is transferred from the Catholic Church.
In Ballina, Co Mayo, discussions are underway to find accommodation for a new school after a transfer was agreed with the Church of Ireland.
Minister Quinn said the new schools would be a better reflection of modern Ireland.
"This is a reality of modern Ireland," he said. "It's not just about newcomers who come here. It's about people who were brought up in the Catholic tradition, but who don't share that tradition any more.
"Culturally, they remain so, but they don't have that (Catholic) belief system. They don't feel they should be obliged to hypocritically have their child either baptised or go through Communion or Confirmation when that's not the ethos of the home."
