Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

The discussion that will take place will present further opportunities.

I wholeheartedly agree with Deputy Quinn to the effect that we must not take our eye off the day job. Everyone in the House agrees that the quality of education, a focus on children and a role for parental choice constitute the main focus of what we want to ensure. For many, the struggle to find a child a place conjures up a great deal.

It is important that I take this opportunity to make some remarks. The voluntary nature of many people's involvement in education is often forgotten. Without this voluntary element, the system would not work as well as it does. It also means that local schools have a community feel.

I raised this debate on the basis that some colleagues might believe I do not have an open mind, given where I come from. However, I do. I am a parent and am very much of the opinion that all children should have the capacity to attend local schools within their communities if possible. As the mother of a child with a disability, he does not need to come to Dublin to school now that we have moved so much. This means he has developed well and, since there is no difference, the children in his school do not pass any remarks about him. It is important that we not differentiate between children on the basis of where they come from. This will help us to create good citizens.

In the context of providing parental choice and ensuring quality of education, the needs of rapidly growing areas must be met and children must have places provided for them. Deputies Ruairí Quinn and Brian Hayes come from two different perspectives in a large city. A third of the former's population are not of the Catholic faith and, when I travelled with Deputy Brian Hayes recently, we saw the high levels of deprivation and many other needs that must be addressed.

We have witnessed a number of aspects in the development of education. The role of the religious has been and will continue to be important. The diversification within the religious is equally important.

I had an opportunity to attend the opening of an Educate Together school. The children were fabulous and wonderful, the school was beautiful and there was a great sense of community and a large degree of parental involvement.

Cuidíonn na gaelscoileanna go mór le saol an aos óg. Tá sé an-tábhachtach go bhfuil deis ag daoine múineadh trí mheán na Gaeilge. Is mór an trua é go bhfuil difríocht chomh mhór idir na gaelscoileanna agus na scoileanna Gaeltachta. Ní cheapann muintir na Gaeltachta go bhfuil an difríocht sin féaráilte. Ag an am céanna, cuidíonn na scoileanna éagsúla go mór leis an chultúr agus leis an teanga. Tá sé sin soiléir sa Teach seo agus in Éirinn i gcoitinne. Nuair nach bhfuil gaelcholáistí ar fáil, cruthaíonn sé deacrachtaí do pháistí atá ag freastal ar na gaelscoileanna agus gur mhaith leo leanúint ar aghaidh lena chuid oideachais trí Ghaeilge sa mheánscoil. Tá go leor do mo chomhghleacaithe ag cur brú orm meánscoileanna a sholáthar ina ceantracha fhéin.

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