Jen Cummins (Dublin South Central, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive answer. Yes, it is not the answer I want but God loves a trier. The reconfiguration process has been very slow to date. The previous programme for Government had it that, I think, 400 schools would be transferred. Unfortunately, that number has not been reached yet and I did not see it in the programme for Government this time.

The survey has been promised for quite a long time and I am anxious to know when exactly it will happen. The reply said there was no unmet need in Dublin 8. Will the Minister of State clarify if that is because there is a suggestion that students in Dublin 8 should travel to Dublin 10, Kylemore College, and Dublin 12, Clogher Road?

I know Sandymount Park Educate Together Secondary School, whose open day some years ago I was happy to attend as chair of Educate Together, is a thriving school and doing very well but a number of my neighbours and friends’ children attend that school and take two buses. They leave at 7.25 a.m. and get a bus into town and a bus out to Sandymount. Those children are exhausted coming back from school. The other day, I spoke to a friend whose child was often unable to get out of bed because he was so tired from the long journey. If that is the school provision for Dublin 8, it is too far away from the students. I know that is what it was supposed to do, but two bus trips is not in the community even if the Department says it is.

How quick can reconfiguration happen? On the survey, when will we know? If there will be a transfer, how can that group be supported to identify those schools? Has the Department identified which schools could be part of that transfer of patronage?

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