Less than 40% of parents of primary school children in Kerry would prefer their child to attend a multi-denominational school.
That’s according to figures from the Department of Education’s Primary School Survey, released by Minister Hildegarde Naughton.
It explored preferences regarding school patronage, ethos, language instruction, and co-educational or single sex education provision.
Over 96% of Kerry based respondents to the survey were linked to Catholic primary schools in the county.
The survey gathered the views of both parents/guardians of children currently attending primary school and parents/guardians of children yet to enter the school system.
132 national schools within the Kerry school planning area partook in the primary school survey, the total response rate in the county was 43.5%.
According to the data, 38.4% of respondents would prefer their child to attend a multi-denominational school; with 61.6% of parents preferring a denominational or religious patroned school.
Multi-denominational schools are subject to the same Department of Education rules and regulations, and deliver the national curriculum in the same way.
However, pupils learn about all faiths and belief systems as part of the school day.
Of the Kerry households with children not yet in school, over 41% preferred multi-denominational education in primary school; while 59% indicated a religious/denominational education preference.
The figures show that 97% of participants would prefer their children to attend co-educational or mixed-sex schools.
This preference was indicated by 96.9% of households with children already in school; and 96.8% of those with children not yet in school.
Meanwhile, Kerry recorded among the highest shares nationally for households with a preference for education through Irish.
More than a quarter (26.2%) of participants indicated a preference for learning as Gaeilge.
In total, the survey received 5,554 valid responses in Kerry, households with children already in school accounted for the majority (3,633), while 1,921 parents/guardians of children not yet in school responded.
