Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

Has the Taoiseach seen the speech made yesterday by the Archbishop of Dublin, Dr. Diarmuid Martin? The archbishop stated it is no longer tenable to have 92% of the primary schools in the country managed by the Catholic church. He described that situation as an almost monopoly that is an historic hangover which does not reflect the realities of today's Ireland. He went on to suggest that there should be new models for the management of primary schools that would provide for parental choice and which would reflect the diversity of life in today's Ireland.

Archbishop Martin has suggested that there should be dialogue between the State and the Catholic church on this matter. He has also suggested that there should be a national forum to discuss new models for the patronage and management of schools. Does the Taoiseach agree with the archbishop's general assessment? Will he take up the suggestion made by the archbishop for dialogue between the State and the Catholic church on the patronage and management of schools? Will he agree to establish the national forum on education and on the future patronage and management of schools advocated by the archbishop?

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