Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail)

The Minister of State has thrown a spanner in the works as regards the situation in Ashbourne. His response will probably cause fear in Ashbourne. At least seven streams of junior infants classes are required and the Minister of State says that at least two will be provided in schools with a multi-denominational ethos. People had understood there were at least two streams in one of the multi-denominational schools and there is also a multi-denominational gaelscoil. This response will sow complete confusion among parents and it is unacceptable. It illustrates my point that the Department does not seem to know what it is doing. The Minister of State has not answered my question as to whether there are sufficient places in Ashbourne. In fact, he has cast doubt on whether there will be sufficient places and he has not provided any information as to how it was decided that parental choice would be expressed in the provision of these two schools. In my opinion, the Educate Together and multi-denominational school are required because there will be a demand for such schools and this is also the case with regard to the multi-denominational gaelscoil. However, there is no doubt there is a demand for more Catholic education but the reply does not deal with this fact. I ask if the Department knows what it is doing with regard to Ashbourne.

I advised the Minister in writing one month ago that he should take this situation very seriously or he would have another Laytown on his hands. It does not seem to me that he is taking it seriously. I do not want to have children without school places in September and this situation needs to be clarified as soon as possible by means of a public statement from the Minister.