Parents have been slow to engage with a Department of Education survey on their preferred choice of patron for primary schools.

Figures released by the Department of Education indicate that less than 40 per cent of parents took part in an online survey in five pilot areas, which included Castlebar. The actual results of the surveys will not be known until next week. However, early indications show that parents in Castlebar responded at a greater rate than the other 4 locations, coming in at about 50 percent.

These surveys are the first step in a process in which the Catholic Church could be divested of control of schools in 44 areas. Despite the low turnout, the department insists there was “an encouraging level of interest from parents”. It says the pilot surveys will allow it to identify the level of parental demand for a wider diversity of school choice in the selected areas.

39 areas additional areas are to be surveyed next year.