The group that represents multi-denominational schools, Educate Together, has expressed surprise that it was not asked to act as patron for a new primary school in west Dublin.
The Catholic Church says it has reluctantly agreed to act as patron for the new Scoil Choilm at Diswellstown, after a request from the Department of Education. The school will cater for 90 pupils - most of them non-Catholic - who have been unable to find places in local schools.
The fast-growing area of Diswellstown already has two Catholic primary schools. Both have enforced a strict enrolment policy, giving priority to Catholic children.
The decision to involve the Catholic Church is controversial because Scoil Choilm is due to be the State's first community school at primary level.
As part of a pilot project beginning next year, it is expected to provide a template for a new kind of patronage that moves away from the traditional church-based provision.
Last night, Paul Rowe, chief executive of Educate Together, said he was greatly surprised that no approach had been made to his group as "our model is ideally suited to the needs of the area".
At present, primary schools can be established only under the aegis of a recognised patron.
With an acute shortage of school places in Dublin 15, the department had been under pressure to establish the school without any further delay. But its decision to ask the Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Martin, to act as patron for an initial period of two years was also criticised by the Labour Party last night.
Its education spokesperson, Jan O'Sullivan, accused the Minister for Education, Mary Hanafin, of reneging on her responsibility to ensure the State provision of primary education to all children. "The Archbishop will act as patron despite the fact that the vast majority of pupils are not from Catholic families. It is clear that the Church has agreed reluctantly to do the State's job."
On RTÉ News yesterday, Dr Martin said the church was reluctant to open another Catholic school in the area because it believed the existing schools were sufficient to cater for the Catholic population.
But following a request from the department it had agreed to act as a caretaker patron for this new emergency school - but only until an alternative was arranged.
Last night, Minister of State Brian Lenihan said arrangements had been made to contact the parents of children who had sought unsuccessfully to enrol their children in the Porterstown/ Diswellstown schools, and transport would be provided to Blanchardstown where necessary.
"I would particularly like to thank Archbishop Martin for his assistance in agreeing to undertake the patronage of the school on this occasion," he said.
John Carr, general secretary of the Irish National Teachers' Organisation, said there was an urgent need to "design a new model of schooling which will accommodate our new diversity under one roof".
Last night, the department defended its decision to contact the Catholic archdiocese. In a statement to The Irish Timesit said: "The parents of the pupils to be enrolled in Scoil Choilm in September next had previously applied to schools in the area under Catholic patronage.
"For this reason the department requested the archbishop to revive an earlier application to establish a school in the area."
