Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I hear the Deputy's absolute enthusiasm and I utterly accept his bona fides, as I do those of the parents. There are some very impressive people here, including parents and those from the schools themselves, who are advocating very strongly. I do not take that for granted at all. Where it is possible, and we have consistently said we are keeping this under active review, I want this to work out to everybody's mutual benefit. We are actively keeping it under review. If the threshold of 400 is not reached, for example, we are saying that there are opportunities for an aonad. I know that is not everybody's preference, but any English-medium school can open an aonad. I know from my own experience that many a Gaelcholáiste actually started as an aonad. I have personal experience of that. There are opportunities there. Again, I am not saying that it is everybody's first preference but it is a very good preference to be able to grow to reach 400.