Sean Barrett (Independent)

I welcome the Minister to the House. I was pleased to hear on "Morning Ireland" that the debating DNA of the Quinn family has been passed on to the next generation. We look forward to the Minister's son addressing the Seanad in the future. I am sure the Seanad will be retained because of debates such as this.

The 2006-2011 census shows a population increase of 8.2 %. I compliment the Minister that he was able to persuade the Department of Finance and the IMF that we need more schools for everybody, because we have 8.2% more people. This was an important departure from the necessary adjustments in our public finances. That is the optimistic side of this debate, that we will have more schools and more people in them. I hope the standards to which we have always aspired will be maintained. The configuration in the census on religious affiliation showed that the number of those of no religion increased by 83,000 in the period, but that the number of those who profess to be Roman Catholics increased by 180,000. There were some other interesting increases also. The number of those who profess to be orthodox religion was up by 24,000, the number of Muslims was up by 17,000 and the number of Church of Ireland members was up by 8,000 and Pentecostals by 6,000. There was a reduction in numbers in churches like the Methodist church.

Therefore, we have a changing situation. It is interesting that page 29 of the report indicates an increase of 17,000 in the Muslim population, but there are only two Muslim schools. I presume this will be one of the requests to the Minister. I refer to page 29 of the report. I do not see any schools reserved for the orthodox religions but perhaps they are happy with the present arrangements. However, there is concern in the Protestant denominations which comprise 174 Church of Ireland schools, 17 Presbyterian schools and one Methodist school. Their numbers are also increasing. However, I think they are not as enthusiastic, as the Minister will probably surmise, about the process. The report refers to a voluntary investiture procedure described by the Roman Catholic schools which states:

The Catholic patron, in dialogue with the local community, might make any buildings which are surplus to requirements available so that the Department of Education and Skills could plan for greater diversity of school provision in that area. If sufficient demand for a school under different patronage can be demonstrated, then all of the stakeholders should work in partnership towards that goal.

Those are admirable sentiments when expressed in that voluntary way and it is to be hoped that this will be a peaceful process without controversy and that all those who participate will be doing so voluntarily. I detect concern among the Protestant denominations that their view is that they cater for an increasing population and they already provide diversity and that the wish of the majority community to move voluntarily towards that pattern of divestiture might not be shared. I am sure the Minister will ascertain this sentiment himself in his consultations with the various groups.

I have one other concern about the report and I refer to page 93, a concern with regard to religious artefacts. This reminds me of all sorts of disputes in the northern part of the island about religious artefacts, flags, emblems and so on. I ask that we please relax and respect other people's emblems and live in the harmony which the Minister has always sought to promote and which we all share in this House.

I commend the Minister for his approach, that there is to be voluntary engagement and consultation. We have to cater for a rapidly increasing number of pupils and this includes an increase in the numbers of pupils professing allegiance to all the major religions. I thank the Minister for his address to the House and I welcome the voluntary and participatory nature of his proposals. Credit is also due to the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Dublin for going to the Minister to initiate this process.