Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I accept there is another side to the argument on the particular local issue to which I referred. I am also aware, however, of schools that have been set up recently and have hardly any pupils. One has to wonder what happened to all the demand that was predicted in those cases. I accept there is a need for additional school places. In Lucan some years ago we experienced a crisis in this regard, with emergency schools having to be set up. It was very much a case of demand being catered for only after it became evident rather than being planned for in advance. The situation is very much changing in that regard, which is welcome.

The specific issue of concern I have raised is where there is demand for a particular type of school. I am not saying it is always the case, but I have been written to by parents who reveal their motivation as being a reluctance to have their child mix with disadvantaged pupils in a particular school. They want a specific type of school to be set up simply to cater for their child. As a public representative, one hears that type of sentiment. I am making the point that we should bear in mind what might be going on behind the scenes in terms of some parents' motivation. I am concerned that this factor might be influencing some of the choices that are being made within the system.