State must negotiate ownership of primary schools
Ruairi Quinn TD has called on the Government to act now to protect the infrastructure of primary schools which are largely owned by the Churches.
The ownership of primary schools should be transferred to the Government, Labour education spokesman Ruairi Quinn told delegates at the party's annual conference on March 27.
Noting that, for historical reasons, 95% of the country's 3,200 primary schools are owned by the Church of Ireland and the Catholic Church, he insisted that no existing primary school should be closed or sold without the agreement of the Minister for Education.
“The Government must take steps, through negotiation, to arrange for the orderly transfer of ownership to the State so as to protect this important infrastructure.
“The existence of the school would be guaranteed, and the rights of the existing patron would remain and be respected, so as to ensure the continued operation of the school.”
Ownership of the schools would bring with it responsibility for maintenance and proper upkeep by the State, Mr Quinn said. (Source: Irish Times)
March 31st, 2009 at 10:10 pm
I hope Mr Quinn knows where to get the finances to purchase the schools and to maintain them in the manner in which they have been maintained to date!! The transfer of ownership is complex in Primary Schools. The Trustees on the whole - except for very new schools - own the land and the buildings are part owned by DES and Patron.
April 5th, 2009 at 12:00 pm
People worldwide can hardly believe it, when I tell them the church owns almost all schools in ireland, that you have to have your children indoctrinated into the Catholic faith, if you want your children educated, that parents baptise their children in order to get them into the schools.
Talk about control over people.!
It is very easy- the people paid the money into the church- so therefore the people own the schools and churches.
No Pope or bishop paid the Creator for the land and has a receipt to claim ownership, as we all are Guardians of the Earth and her lands.
So, it is quite simple- all land and property of the church belings to all collectively.
April 5th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
Maighread says:
The Trustees on the whole - except for very new schools - own the land and the buildings are part owned by DES and Patron.
Sorry, the trustees do not own the land by law- Creator gave us the land FOR FREE…to all of us, and while the trustess are Guardians, they are not owners, and if you check the instrument files for the property you will see for yourself what I mean.
The Patriarchl system legalised the ownership to suit themselves, but it is not Lawful.