Mr. John Irwin:

Coming back to Senator Alice-Mary Higgins, it was a point well made. I have no difficulty with it, but in the submission we made we were pointing out that the debate had somehow concentrated very much on religion when that was not the only factor. Very often, in fact, it is not the more important factor. In school admission we see inclusivity as the key issue. The soft barriers to which the Senator referred are something we sincerely hope the committee will be open to debating in the context of the wider admissions Bill and seek people's views. Under the new allocation model for pupils with special educational needs at post-primary level, each school will have a baseline of 20%. No school can put up a defence that it cannot accept a child on the basis that it is not able to meet a special educational need when that need is being provided for through the allocation model. We would like to see that issue opened for debate and discussed fully. Deputy Cathderine Martin mentioned soft barriers. Anecdotally, we hear it also, but it is about the nature of inclusive education.

In terms of communities looking for non-denominational schools by choice if they were available, one is looking at the evolution of the education system. We know from where it evolved and can see in the later schools that have opened such as community schools that they are non-denominational. There will be a catch-up period. I note that the schools currently available are diverse and inclusive and very much aim to meet the needs of all communities. However, I take the point made.