Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is also worth reflecting on the mix of those schools. In every case at primary level, it was a non-denominational school under the patronage of either Educate Together, Foras Pátrúnachta, an ETB or other multidenominational patron. Each of the 31 new schools in the last couple of years was non-denominational. As such, there is no big conspiracy to prevent the emergence of choice. We are trying to promote choice.

Deputy Coppinger asked how we could improve provision for children who are not of the particular religious ethos of their school and ensure they are protected. This is an area in which, again, we are taking initiatives. It will have to be specified in the admissions Bill how schools will deal with pupils who want or whose parents want them to opt out conscientiously of religious instruction. They will have to set that out in their admissions policies. Moreover, that will be overseen under the parents and students charter with parents having the right to go to the Ombudsman for Children if they are not happy with the way in which they are being respected under that provision. Again, we are moving to introduce changes which will allow children who do not want to participate in the particular ethos to have their positions respected and dealt with.

I return to the basic reasoning. I cannot support a Bill which throws out all of the characteristic ethos and diversity of schools. What we need to do is create more and diverse schools and to deal with the issue of children who are not of the denomination of their local school to provide them with a fair chance of access. We are trying to restrict the use of religious grounds for choice either through catchment, nearest-school quotas or the amendment of the Equal Status Act in such a way as to also protect those schools.

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