Mr. Sam Fitzsimmons:

I would like to respond to the question about the figure of 8%. As Ms McNamee pointed out, many integrated schools are oversubscribed. If parents cannot get their children into an integrated school, there is no other option for them; therefore, they have to opt for one under another type of management. There are only 65 integrated schools, which reduces the opportunities for parents to send their kids to integrated schools. That the figure is just under 8% is remarkable, given that the Government has never planned an integrated school. As we said, all of the schools have been established by parents, whether they are grant maintained integrated, GMI, schools or transformed schools. They are parent-led. It is a challenge to ask parents to remodel the education system in the North. That is a job for politicians and officials within the Department. Our challenge as a movement is not just to grow integrated education in response to parental demand.

We need the education system to be redesigned. I may be repeating myself, but there are over 50,000 empty school desks. There is an extensive tale of underachievement in schools. All schools have a budget crisis. It is predicted that next year there will be a £300 million shortfall for schools, many of which are in deficit. We need political leadership and the will to make integrated education the norm, rather than a lifestyle choice for parents to create for themselves. I hope that provides a little context for the figure of 8%.