Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I accept the points the Deputy has made. There are 63 pilots. It is important to remember, as I said previously when it was raised with me, that in some areas it has worked much better and has been a much stronger process than it has been in other areas. There have certainly been challenges and it has been more challenging in some areas than in others. It is for that reason that the Department has given an absolute commitment that there will be a full review of the process. Any learnings that we gain, we will obviously put to good use.

It has been particularly complex in the area referenced by the Deputy. Notwithstanding that, I have also pointed to where we have had successes, for example, at Cornamaddy National School. It is the wish and the hope of the Department that there will be number of other transfers of patronage and changes of ethos to multidenominational schools in the short term. The pilots are up and running. We are awaiting the final report from the facilitator in regard to the area that the Deputy references.

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