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

I find them outstanding, but that is another matter. In our discussions with the Catholic bishops, Archbishop Martin has indicated clearly that where there is not a demand for a Catholic ethos or patronage in a school, the church is willing to consider that option.

My officials met with the archbishop and Bishop O'Reilly last week or the previous week. At that meeting we thought they might outline exactly what schools they had in mind in terms of a change of patronage. They did not do that, but they indicated clearly that where we could identify areas where a change of patron might be deemed appropriate, they would consider them, but that it would only be done on the basis of discussion between the parents, teachers and general community. We undertook to look through the geographical system that we have in place to consider not developing areas because they will be catered for anyway, but other areas of slow growth to examine whether there is a need for change.

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