Jimmy Harte (Labour)

I thank Senator Jim D'Arcy for highlighting my letter in yesterday's edition of The Irish Times which was based on a debate on the integration and survival of small schools. I pointed out that Northern Ireland seems to be ahead of the curve compared to the position here, for which credit must go to Minister O'Dowd, and I congratulate him on that. There is a more focused debate in Northern Ireland on integrated schools. I speak from the perspective of my upbringing in Raphoe in east Donegal where there was a mixed population of Catholic, Church of Ireland, Presbyterian and other faiths, and at one stage there was one Presbyterian and two Protestant schools in the area. They amalgamated and there is now one Church of Ireland dominated school which is also attended by Catholics. It means the Church of Ireland and Presbyterian religions have a better school than they had before. They had three small schools in buildings which were not of a good standard. We must examine the integration of schools where small schools are under threat. The churches in Northern Ireland and here have recognised that where there is a danger of two or three small schools closing it is important for local education that they integrate and develop education in the area rather than busing children to another town.

I am sure everyone will agree that Northern Ireland was not well served by having single religion schools. I grew up in Raphoe, County Donegal, and did not meet some people from the same town for the first time until university because we did not go to the same school and they may not have played sport. There is one man with whom I spoke for the first time in Belfield although we lived only 300 yards apart. Had we gone to the same school we would have been good mates as we had everything in common except religion. I felt more comfortable in his company than I did in the company of Dublin people. This is a debate we must have. It has begun in Northern Ireland, which is ahead of us in this regard. I congratulate the Minister on this initiative.