CONTROL OF the Republic's 96 Christian Brothers schools is to be transferred to a charitable trust run by lay people from September. RUADHÁN MAC CORMAICreports
This ends the Brothers' day-to-day involvement in the running of the schools, a tradition dating back over two centuries.
The Edmund Rice Schools Trust, a company that will assume responsibility for a school network that caters for some 35,000 students and over 2,700 teachers, will include among its nine members the former president of the European Parliament, Pat Cox, Mr Justice Peter Kelly, who will chair the trust, and Dr Daniel O'Hare, founding president of Dublin City University.
The company's six directors will be led by Pat Diggins, who recently served as interim director of Marino Institute of Education.
Following recent approval by the Irish Episcopal Conference, all 59 second-level and 37 primary schools currently run by the Christian Brothers in the Republic will come under the new body's stewardship from the start of the next school year on September 1st.
Its duties will include appointing the boards of management of secondary schools.
The chairperson of directors of the new trust, Pat Diggins, said yesterday that its establishment would ensure the continuity of a tradition that dated back over two centuries.
"As trustees we are extremely conscious not only of the tangible value of the network of schools but equally of the invaluable educational ethos established by Blessed Edmund Rice that has been entrusted to us," he said.
"We will be working in conjunction with the Christian Brother trustees and with all of the relevant stakeholders within our educational environment to ensure a smooth transition."
The Brothers' departure from day-to-day running of schools is a response to the huge decline in the number of Brothers, the age profile of those currently involved - many are well past retirement age - and the country's changing demographics.
Speaking on behalf of the Christian Brother trustees, Brother Kevin Mullan said yesterday's announcement marked the beginning of "an exciting new chapter" for both the Brothers and for education in Ireland.
He thanked the members and directors who "on a voluntary basis, are taking on the important role of trustees into the future". The Edmund Rice Schools Trust will be launched in Dublin on June 18th.