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

The difficulty is that many elements of the approach taken militated against consensus and, in fact, it went far further than that and has now resulted in deep divisions within the school community. Among the problem areas was, first, that a very rapid decision was expected about the next school year. Second, there were no data or surveys prior to the initiation of discussions. Third, the complexity of a campus with mixed junior and single-sex post-infant classes was not anticipated. Basic questions like how the model would work and where feeder schools would be found were not anticipated before the approach was taken. The result was that camps were created very rapidly and what could have been achieved has been frustrated. We need a new approach. I would like to hear how the Minister thinks about resolving those issues that I have outlined.

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