Published: Wednesday, 4th August, 2010 5:22pm

Athlone chosen as area for church to cede school control

One or more of Athlone's existing 14 primary schools could lose its Catholic Church patronage, in a bid to offer a more diverse choice to parents and reduce the dominance of Catholic schools in the area.

The Department of Education has selected Athlone as one of six towns best suited for the church could cede its control and hand over the school to another patron.

The list of towns where a where a non or multi-denominational school is required was drawn up based on a number criteria, including population size and a low likelihood that any other new school would be established here before 2016.

Under the criteria adopted, the Catholic school selected for divesting has to be within 5km of the Athlone Town boundary. The 14 schools within that radius are: Cornafulla NS, St Peter's NS, Summerhill NS, Dean Kelly, Ardkeenan (Drum), Clonbonny, Cornamaddy, Scoil Ciarain, Cloonakilla, St Paul's, Coosan NS, Ballybay Central (Kiltoom), Scoil na gCeithre Maistrí (gaelscoil), and St Mary's NS. There is only one non-Catholic school within this radius, Athlone NS Mixed which is Church of Ireland, but there are no multi-denominational schools.

No particular school listed above by the Department has been prioritised as a candidate for divesting.

The Department has predicted that depending on current need, there could be anything from 414 pupils to 1,381 pupils in demand of a non/multi denominational education.

The final decision as to whether to exit church control would rest with the local bishop, trustees and boards of management in the particular schools.