Ms Tina Merron:

Yes, I would say that. It has a duty to encourage and facilitate, but it is not proactive. It waits until something happens and something is brought to it. Basically, after it sees the evidence that parents have to bring, or we have to help parents bring, it will then step in and help with or approve a transformation, providing it meets certain guidelines. However, the department is not proactive. It does not go and ask parents. It could send a survey around to all parents in Northern Ireland and ask them what type of school they would like in five to ten years. This is where Irish-medium and integrated education would be the popular choices, as opposed to thestatus quonow.