Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)

As already stated, there is no reason a forum could not be established in the future. However, I must be informed as to the exact position. I have put in place the commission on school accommodation, on which all of the patron bodies are represented and to which they are all providing of their expertise, and I would like to await the results of its deliberations. In addition, particular groups have indicated to me that they are seeking movement in respect of the matter of patronage. I have also put in place two model schools, in the form of pilot projects, and I want to measure the success of these schools and discover what can be learned from their operation. This is particularly relevant in the context of the forum we will obviously need to establish some time in the future.

What is being done in this area is work in progress. It would be premature to establish a forum at this stage. I intend to await the results of the commission's work and the evaluation of the operation of the model schools. At that point, it would be important to establish an open forum.

See this speech in context