Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

The type of system we have is probably unique in the world. We have 4,000 schools, half a dozen management bodies — all of which have responsibilities — major agencies like the National Educational Welfare Board and the National Educational Psychological Service. The Department is also involved in the school completion programmes in all of the drugs task force areas, and in local development and partnership bodies. People are already involved in a significant number of initiatives.

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