Mary Wallace (Meath East, Fianna Fail)

I make the point that there is an exceptional demographic aspect to it. While I accept this is a minefield, I am glad we are debating it because we need to address many issues. We have the demographic need that has led to increased demand in the area in which I live. There is also the issue of religious provision during the school day. It is of concern that no gaelscoil has been approved in the past few years. Did the Department receive applications where the patron was gaelscoil and the demographic need existed? I would support the reasoning that the demographic need must back it up. Let us have gaelscoileanna and let us have schools where the demographic requirement exists.

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