Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail)

I thank the Minister of State for attending. I raise a very important issue concerning which I am not sure the Department is fully apprised. The balanced patronage of our schools is a topical issue and was discussed in some detail in the Seanad yesterday. It is also an emotive issue. Equally important is the right of all parents to send their children to a school of their choice. As important, and above all of that, is the need to ensure there are sufficient places for children in our primary school system. We have had too many disasters throughout the years where there was a lack of places, including in my constituency, County Meath. Six years ago there was the so-called Laytown schools crisis and I swore that I never wanted to see the likes of that again. However, I fear it is happening in Ashbourne. I wrote about this situation to the Minister, Deputy Quinn, more than a month ago but he has not replied. I pointed out that I was only writing such a letter because of the seriousness of the situation. I have raised this matter on the Adjournment because I received no reply to my letter.

An issue has arisen in recent weeks in the town of Ashbourne where 120 parents came together at a public meeting. Most of these parents have no place for their child to begin primary school next September. Most of the parents at that meeting were campaigning for a place in a school with a Catholic ethos but there did not seem to be places in any school. It is a case of more questions than answers. They want to know will there be places for their children to begin school next September and will they be educated in a school with a Catholic ethos.

Up to now, Ashbourne had two mainstream Catholic schools and a Catholic gaelscoil. One would have thought the addition of an Educate Together and a multi-denominational gaelscoil would be the answer to the issues of school places and of diversity. However, this has not proved to be the case, according to parents. The reality is that a major flaw in the Department's approach to this issue is that no surveys have been conducted to ascertain the preferences of parents for the type of education they want. No information has been given to parents as to how the Department of Education and Skills decides the number of places required in the primary school system year on year.

I understand one of the Catholic schools applied to expand to allow children attend the school of choice but this expansion was refused by the Department. I understand some of the other schools are not happy with this expansion but it would have solved the problem and in my view, it would not have impacted on either of the two new schools proposed for Ashbourne this year.

I understand from media reports that the Minister has refused to meet Oireachtas Members from County Meath, including myself. However, this news has not been communicated to me in writing. I have had no response to correspondence from the Minister on what I regard as a very serious issue. I was heavily involved in the Laytown schools crisis and I criticised my own Government at the time in order to have the issue resolved. Therefore, when I raise a similar issue, I think it should be taken seriously in the Department because I would not raise it if I did not regard it as a serious issue.

It is a poor decision by the Minister not to meet local Oireachtas Members as it flies in the face of openness and transparency. I ask the Minister of State to confirm the Department's plans to deal with the issue of children without school places. I ask him to inform the House about the Department's policy on the ethos of schools it funds. I ask if any research has been undertaken with regard to the policy so that there is an informed choice. It is wholly unfair to force parents to send children to schools with an ethos to which they do not subscribe. Parental choice and parental support for new school patronage schemes are absolutely necessary in any new system.

As regards Catholic education, it should be noted that the increase in the Catholic population of County Meath in the period from the 2006 census to the 2011 census, is twice the overall figure for those with no religion. We should not overlook the majority when it comes to a question of choice. The Government is proposing to establish an Educate Together school and a multi-denominational gaelscoil in Ashbourne and this is to be welcomed. However, there seems to be a substantial cohort of parents, enough to make up one or two classes, who want a Catholic education for their children and this is being denied to them. In my view, this goes against the spirit of choice and diversity and respect for each and every child.