Rónán Mullen (Independent) | Oireachtas source

We might have a discussion on another day about the appropriateness of discretionary payments for events like first holy communion and so on.

Tacaím leis an méid a dúirt an Seanadóir Darragh O'Brien maidir le seirbhísí póilíneachta agus an suirbhé faoi phátrúnacht sna scoileanna. Fuair mé litir le déanaí ó duine a chuir in iúl dom go raibh lochtanna sa suirbhé sin a chur an Roinn Oideachais agus Scileanna ar fáil. Mar shampla, dóibh siúd atá ag iarraidh an Foras Pátrúnachta a ainmniú mar phátrún ar mhaith leo bheith ar fáil dóibh, ní luaitear ach an Foras Pátrúnachta idirchreidmheach. Tá daoine ann, mar shampla, ar mhaith leo go mbeadh scoil faoi phátrúnacht Chaitliceach ar fáil dóibh, ach gur scoil lán-Ghaelach a bheadh ann. Ní thugtar an rogha sin dóibh. Caithfidh siad é a luadh agus a mhíniú ina gcuid bhfocal féin.

The pilot survey of parents' wishes on five areas is flawed. However, it has been a ringing endorsement of denominational education and much more than the Government has been willing to acknowledge. The number of people who either do not want a wider choice of patronage or who would not avail of it themselves is in all cases far in excess of those who would seek alternative patronage models in their areas. It generally runs at a ratio of 60:40 or 2:1 and I say that as somebody who supports a greater diversity. When one factors in all of the people who did not take part in the survey and add all of the people who are quite happy with the current arrangement or would not support further provision, one has a strong statement of denominational education. I do not think that their views were reflected in the debate that I heard recently involving Senator Bacik on "Today with Pat Kenny". The Government still seems to have the mentality that control is what this is all about which it must wrest away.