Ms Anne McDonagh:

I reiterate that these discussions started in Ballyfermot in 2008 with the chairpersons of the boards of management and the parish priest of the time, because they saw that the numbers were falling and that they needed to consider the education of the children of Ballyfermot for the future. In fact, when the forum was announced by the Minister for Education and Skills, the parish priest paused the discussions and sent a letter to me indicating that the discussions were paused. I took the view that was not a good idea and that it was a pity to pause them. I took the view that while the forum went on the discussions should have continued. That is what happened. Then, when the forum finished the discussions were started again.

Why was the decision made to relocate to what was formerly the Dominican site? That decision was made by the chairpersons at local level. It was probably the case that that was where the larger school numbers were. There were 700 pupils there. Rather than move 700 pupils down, they decided to move 278 up. We have secured the sports field for the new school, because that is critical. It will also be available to girls now, whereas it was only available to the boys before.

The thinking behind all of this from the patron's point of view is that the patron has a responsibility for the schools as patron of the schools.

With the various bills that are coming in, the situation is not sustainable into the future. Something has to be done about it and that is the reason we were looking at this with the schools. It is a matter for the people at local level to decide what has to be done about it, but something has to be done because one cannot maintain two huge campuses for the number of pupils in the area.

I have pointed out to the joint committee what we have been trying to do all over the archdiocese, and we would appreciate anything that members can do at local level, for example, if one sees schools at local level that need reorganisation or members can do anything to support us in our wok for education.