Eugene Regan (Fine Gael)

The problem we are discussing is essentially one of planning and integration. It represents a failure of education policy. There is a constitutional right to education, which entails a right to ethos education. To commence the argument based on the issue of ethos education misses the point. The right to ethos education is given expression in a detailed legislative framework under which schools are patronised by the main churches. It was originally designed in an Ireland far different from the island of today, but there was diversity and minority communities — both Protestant and Jewish — were accommodated in that education process. However, in a short space of time, with the inward migration of EU workers and refugees far exceeding the total number of those previous minority communities, structural problems have become apparent which have given rise to an important philosophical debate on the nature of Irish education.

Fine Gael supports ethos education and, indeed, all forms of education, whether it be religious, interdenominational, multi-denominational or non-denominational. We are in favour of a choice of ethos either by parents or the State. Fine Gael supports the maximum practical choice by parents over the education of their children and that is why we continue to support the practice of patronage of schools by churches, which has served our country so well. However, the integration which has taken place has created a different society and it will have an important impact on planning for education in the future. It is not just a question of planning for an adequate number of primary schools, it is also a question of planning for integration.

In Britain, mosque-sponsored schools in predominantly Moslem areas have had the effect of alienating a generation of Moslem youth. In France, the physical ghettoisation of immigrants has had a similar effect in many areas, regardless of the secular system of education that state promotes. We must provide an adequate number of primary schools and deal with the issue of integration. How is this to be tackled at local and national level? Speaking as a former councillor, it is clear that at local level we had no business in the area of school provision. It was made clear to local authorities that it was a function of the Department of Education and Science. It is self-evident that given the pre-planning required, based on population and the choice of schools required by our new communities, there must be a link between the Department of Education and Science and local authorities. This must be reflected in their county development plans. We must also place greater emphasis on other models of education such as Educate Together, the VEC and community schools.

The Minister will probably welcome a talking shop, whether it is in the form of a convention or a forum. A consultative forum is necessary, but the House should not have to outsource such matters of national concern. It is our job to discuss and decide on them. The Minister should bring forward proposals for pre-planning school needs, the link between this and the county development plans and the provision for reserving land for primary schools. I have seen many cases in which the land has been reserved but the school has not materialised. There also should be proposals for integration in education because it misses the point to blame specific schools for problems such as arose recently in Balbriggan. Those proposals could form the basis for a forum or convention on education.