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

My question is similar to that of the previous speaker with regard to parental choice. I was very disappointed to see Government backbenches expressing what is maybe a U-turn in what the programme for Government was talking about in 2020 on school patronage. It does not seem to appear in the current programme for Government, which I am a little bit concerned about. With 94% of primary schools being under religious ethos, that means only 6% are not. In areas like my own, 79% of parents are not identifying as Catholic. I did serve on the board of Educate Together with Mary O'Rourke, and I was very happy to do so, and I know the Taoiseach has been a supporter. There needs, however, to be clarity from the Government as to exactly what its stance is. I urge the Taoiseach to be very clear so that parents understand what exactly the Government's position is now on school patronage.

See this speech in context