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

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. The issue is basically that the patrons and trustees of both schools have set this process of amalgamation in train. A fundamental principle of partnership in education is consultation. Parents are clear that they have not been consulted enough in respect of this proposal. I was not in the Chamber yesterday evening - I was in Cairo - so I did not hear the Minister for Education's reply. I will follow up with her again. My view is that there should be full and comprehensive consultation with the parents in respect of this issue because a lot of concerns have arisen. There are broader concerns in terms of curriculum choice and so on in terms of the two schools and the number of pupils in each school. There are issues there but, nonetheless, there should be comprehensive consultation all around.

See this speech in context