Church and State in Irish Education in This Century

The relationship of the churches and the state and the role which both play in the educational system have been central and sensitive issues in Irish political life in this century and the center of sustained controversy in the last century. In examining the pattern of the relationship in this century it will prove useful to refer in turn to the historical legacy and the present position, the educational policy of the churches and the response of the political system; some concrete policy issues will then be analyzed in an attempt to describe a model of the policy process and the place of the churches in it.