Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Socialist Party) | Oireachtas source

What this points up is the need for a total change in planning in this country. Every community that I have ever been involved with has had to campaign, lobby, hold public meetings and get petitions to get a school. We need to end this fiasco once and for all.

Will the Minister commit to amending section 4 of the Planning Act, which does not state that schools are a necessary part of a community? There is no requirement to provide schools when a community is being planned. This has to stop completely. Sites must be identified along with a clear structure for how the schools are to come about.

I gather the previous regime involving Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats refused to change the system, but it is up to the Government parties now, especially if they are going to carry on into the next regime. Obviously, they probably will not do so under their current guise. Anyway, will the Minister commit to amending the Planning Act in order that people do not have to campaign? This is not rocket science. People move into homes and some years later they will probably have children and need a school.

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