Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister for her good wishes to me as the new Fine Gael spokesperson on education.

Is the Minister seriously suggesting to the House that she takes no responsibility for what has become, in effect, a segregated model of education in north County Dublin due to the failure of her Department over a long period to put in place additional educational facilities? Does she agree that her Department is not fit for purpose in terms of the provision of additional educational facilities in growing new suburbs? Will she confirm that in 1999, when one of the schools concerned, St. Mologa's national school Balbriggan, applied for a major extension of its facilities the Department lost the application and then refused to approve it, despite the fact that children from a variety of ethnic backgrounds were available to fill the places the works would have delivered?

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