Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)

Will the Minister clarify that there is no problem in principle with a VEC becoming patron of a primary school? The two schools in County Clare in question wanted the patronage represented by the ethos of the VECs. I am sure the Minister of State, Deputy de Valera, is interested in this matter. Is the Minister open to new types of patronage for primary schools?

Deputy Burton's Dublin West constituency has a problem where more than 200 children will not have school places at junior infant level in September. Nobody appears to want to establish a school for these children. Does the Minister believe she has a role under the constitutional right to education and section 7 of the Education Act 1998 to ensure school places for those 200 children in question and others in similar situations?

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