Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The census to which the Deputy refers reminds us all of the scale of change under way in our society and economy. From my experience of divestment programmes and procedures, I have seen the reason they do not happen or happen slowly is that the school community takes time to consider this process and does not always reach a view that a change in patronage is appropriate. We need a more diverse primary, secondary and educational system to support the needs of children of families the Central Statistics Office, CSO, report indicates.

It is one of the many reasons I am delighted to have seen my local Educate Together school in Dublin 7 move into an amazing new building. This is a sign of the Government's support for that important ethos in our education system.

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