Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)

With the change of Minister I hope we shall now see a change of attitude from the Department of Education and Science in terms of dealing with this issue and in terms of bringing to a conclusion these discussions because the pilot schools have been in existence for the past nine years. As my colleague, Deputy Reilly, and others said, the Department only engaged in this issue following the debate in the House in February this year, when the hollowness of the previous Minister's position was exposed for all to see.

As regards the 12 pilot schools on which the Minister wants the discussions to be concluded, is he saying that once the talks are finished there will be absolute agreement on these institutions, but that a way for other schools to emerge in other parts of the country will be indicated, if that is the choice of parents, where the need arises?

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