Irish Dad’s petition for equal access to education goes viral

More than three thousand people have signed an Irish dad's petition to remove religious discrimination from the school enrollment process. Paddy Monahan, from Raheny in Dublin, plans to put the petition before the Oireachtas Petitions Committee when it reconvenes in early September.

“Section 7(3)(c) of the Equal Status Act 2000 allows schools operated by religious institutions to discriminate in their enrolment policies against unbaptised children." says Monahan, who has a three-month-old son. "Since almost all schools in the State are owned by religious institutions, though State-funded, unbaptised children face severe barriers to access to education - barriers that have been created by the State."

The worried dad feels "the mere existence" of section 7(3)(c) "introduces entirely unwarranted tension, anxiety and uncertainty into the lives of children, parents and families in Ireland." Mr Monahan has already met with Equality Minister Aodhán Ó'Ríordáin and Senator Ivana Bacik on the issue and hopes they will speak to Education Minister Jan O'Sullivan about repealing section 7(3)(c) as part of the forthcoming School Admissions Bill. Signing off in the introduction to the online petition, the Dublin dad concluded:

"The more support we drum up, the more likely our call will be heard."

Will you be signing Mr Monahan's petition? Tell us why on Twitter @herfamilydotie using the hashtag #HerFamChats