Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

-----an amalgam of a number of schools that came together.

I gave a commitment to the people in Gorey that we would address their concerns for next year. It was on this basis a number of children were allowed to attend the school. I gave a financial package to the community college at that time in order to address its immediate needs. I also gave an undertaking in regard to the patronage, the appointment of a principal and to bring together a school for next year.

I do not accept the accusation that there was any manipulation of the parental choice opportunities provided. The competition between Education Together and Wexford VEC was open, in respect of which briefings were made available and people could put forward their proposals, all of which were excellent. The scoring of both bodies was similar. The decision at the end of the day was based on 65% of parents opting for VEC patronage.

We will have to build many new schools over the next number of years, in respect of which a variety of patrons may express an interest. It is for this reason I am setting up the advisory group. The chairman of the group, Mr. Frank Murray, was involved in adjudicating on the surveys, which were independently assessed. The real needs of the people of Gorey need to be met. For this reason, I have fully addressed the issues raised with me by the group when in Gorey, at which time I also met with political representatives of all parties. I was determined to deliver on the undertaking I gave and have done so.

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