Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)

I come from a constituency in which students are being blocked at second level because the traditional parish boundaries no longer make sense. A rapidly expanding part of Lucan with a high concentration of foreign national and Traveller children does not have a second level school. Challenges arise throughout the area in finding second level places. The Minister has stated in reply to parliamentary questions that it is all right for children to travel five miles by bus to the nearest available school but people should be able to walk to school in suburban areas.

The amendment seeks to address specific issues and I support it. Ministerial regulations could be introduced but I am not sure whether a six-month timeframe would tie one down too much. In response to similar amendments previously, the Minister has stated her dislike for being tied down to set periods. However, I hope she takes the spirit of the amendment on board.

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