Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Page 86 of the programme for Government states "[e]ducation is the key to giving every child an equal opportunity in life". Unfortunately, that is not the case for five Educate Together schools which were recently informed that for the coming enrolment year they must adhere strictly to a half-stream intake of 13 junior infants. I refer especially to Tramore Eduate Together school which has gone from the strength to strength since it opened in 2014 and has applications in respect of 29 infants in 2018 and 28 in 2019. I appeal to the Taoiseach to remove the restriction that there only be a half-stream intake as it does not make sense. The parents who have enrolled their children, many of whom already have siblings in the school, are extremely disappointed and cannot understand why the decision was taken.

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