Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I put the issue of small rural schools and religious diversity to the Taoiseach earlier. The Government policy on school patronage runs contrary to the maintenance of diversity and pluralism. That is manifest in the policy regarding small rural schools and the deliberate targeting of the pupil-teacher ratios in small rural schools. It began two budgets ago and is progressive. It did not have to be announced this year, but it continues. In its dialogue with the religious authorities and in particular with minority faiths, has the Government undertaken any analysis of the impact of its policies on, for example Church of Ireland, Presbyterian or other minority-faith schools?

In his reply the Taoiseach said that the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Quinn, who attended the meeting in January, said he would not be rushing into implementing any of the findings from the value-for-money audit. I believe he indicated to the religious leaders that the value-for-money audit was taking longer than anticipated. What is meant by saying the Minister will not be rushing into implementing any of the value-for-money audit findings regarding the review of rural schools? There is considerable anxiety in rural areas on this. If the Minister is not rushing into it, would he not be better abandoning what he is up to and just give people peace of mind, certainty and clarity to small rural schools, which represent approximately 50% of all schools in the country?

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