Educate Together Praises Landmark Survey Results for Multi-Denominational Education in Wexford

Educate Together has welcomed the results of a recent national survey on school type preferences, announced by the Minister for Education on April 7th, showing a significant demand for multi-denominational education in County Wexford.

According to the survey, 41.6% of parents in Wexford expressed a preference for multi-denominational primary education. This figure mirrors a broader national trend, where 40% of parents in religious-run schools prefer a multi-denominational option. However, the current school provision in Wexford does not meet this demand, as 95.1% of primary schools across the country remain under denominational control.

In Wexford, Educate Together currently operates three primary schools, along with two other small multi-denominational schools, making up just 5% of the county's 100 primary schools. This leaves many parents with no choice but to send their children to denominational schools.

Edward Platt, Schools Development Officer for Educate Together, emphasized the importance of these survey results. "These national figures are very encouraging for the future of school choice in Wexford. With 41% of parents in the county wanting a multi-denominational school, it's time for the government to take action," Platt stated.

Educate Together has seen growing demand for its schools across Ireland, having opened 60 new schools in the past 15 years in response to parental demand. The organisation is committed to working with families in Wexford to expand access to equality-based education.

The government’s framework for increasing school choice includes a three-step process to address this demand, with schools being identified for potential patronage changes from 2027. Educate Together is calling for the release of school-level data for Wexford and urges adequate resources to support this transition.

For more information on the school patronage transfer process, Wexford families can visit the Educate Together website or email schooltransfers@educatetogether.ie.