Ivana Bacik (Independent)

That is acknowledged. I wish to make two further points. On the issue of faith formation in schools where there is no divestment, where there is a stand-alone school under the patronage of usually the Catholic Church, will faith formation be able to take place outside of the school day? The report recommends a variety of different ways where this could be done but clearly there might be difficulties with having it within the school day where there is a significant minority in the school.

In terms of the VECs and the community national school model, the report, at page 48, expresses certain reservations about the model, notably about the segregation of children within the school day for faith formation, which is certainly at odds with some of the demands of the parents. It also refers to the difficulty about the boards of management within the school. Some of the issues around the VEC schools that are of concern were highlighted in recent RTE reports, about which the Minister will be aware. It might be something on which we could reflect.

Educate Together, as an established and national patron, I attended its AGM on Saturday, as did the Minister, and it has charted an important and progressive way of offering education to children in a multidenominational ethos that is respectful of children of all faiths and none and which has a proven track record not only among parents who do not have a particular religion. I have plenty of Catholic friends who are very happy to send their children to the Educate Together school locally and I have plenty of Catholic friends who are very unhappy because there were not enough places in their local Educate Together school.