‘Demand for multi-denominational education in Donegal is not currently being met’

The results of a national survey on school-type preference show that almost 30% of parents in the county prefer a multi-denominational education. 

However, Letterkenny Educate Together National School is the only multi-denominational school in Donegal. This means that of the 171 primary schools in the county, only one has a multi-denominational ethos. These numbers contrast starkly with current school provision, whereby 95.1% of primary schools nationally remain under denominational control.  

The results were announced by Hildegarde Naughton, TD, Minister for Education and Youth of Ireland, on Tuesday, April 7. According to the results, 40% of parents in religious-run schools nationally would prefer a multi-denominational primary school and 29.1% of families in County Donegal would prefer a multi-denominational education. 

“Demand for multi-denominational / equality-based education in County Donegal is not currently being met,” the school said in a statement. “Parents in many parts of Donegal have no choice other than to send their children to a denominational primary school.” 

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Letterkenny ETNS was founded in 2006 and the Educate Together national office hopes to work with more Donegal-based families in the future to expand access to equality-based education around the county.    

Edward Platt, Schools Development Officer for Educate Together, stated:  “These national results are very encouraging for the future of school choice in County Donegal. 

“At Educate Together, we regularly engage with families and local communities who are frustrated by the lack of multi-denominational / equality-based school places available to them. 

“Now that the Department of Education has provided statistically valid data to show that over 29% of parents in Donegal want their child to have access to a multi-denominational school, we need to see action taken to make this a reality”.  

This announcement also mirrors Educate Together’s experience over many years - as the leader in the provision of equality-based education in Ireland for nearly 50 years, Educate Together has seen demand for its schools increase rapidly, and the organisation has opened 60 schools in the last 15 years in response to parental demand. The first Catholic school in Ireland to transfer patronage in 2024, Paradise Place Educate Together National School, is now a thriving equality-based school at the heart of the community it serves in Dublin.  

Educate Together is urging the government to announce school level data for Donegal soon, and to provide adequate resourcing and investment to support the next steps of the process, so that choice can be provided in the county. 

“The next step of the Department of Education’s action plan is for schools to receive an individualised report on the survey results specific to their school community,” Edward continued. “Educate Together looks forward to engaging with schools following this next stage of the process and exploring potential patronage transfer where demand exists.”  

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