I was curious to read today about apparent opposition from some in the Taoiseach's party and in Fine Gael about the prospect of expanding parental choice in education. I very much welcomed the proposals from the Minister, Deputy McEntee, to create more multidenominational schools in Ireland. The Labour Party has always stood for increased choice in schooling. I have campaigned successfully in my own communities for new multidenominational schools. The former Minister, Ruairí Quinn, really led on seeking to expand parental choice. Yet, 90% of primary schools in this country still have a Catholic ethos. This is out of step with the changing dynamic in Irish society. The majority of teachers favour separating church and education. We know that many more parents now are choosing to send their children to multidenominational schools. It is, therefore, rather surprising to see what is a positive proposal from the Minister, Deputy McEntee, being described apparently as woke and bizarre in a critical sense - anonymously it must be said - by some of her colleagues in government. It seems that, as with marriage equality and repeal, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael TDs are often out of step with the national mood. Does the Taoiseach have any comment to make on this?

As articulated very clearly by the Minister for Education, Deputy McEntee, the Government is in favour of parental choice in respect of school choice. I have been a strong supporter of multidenominational education. Way back, I was involved in providing for the first time 100% grant aid. The Ranelagh school benefited from that decision. The late Mary O'Rourke was the game-changer in paving the way for multidenominational schools. There is parental choice across the board. We have different patrons and it is the policy to continue with a multi-patron approach to education, consulting with parents, and increasingly with students more generally, to make sure there is a diversity of provision in education, and that parental choice is prioritised.

My question is similar to that of the previous speaker with regard to parental choice. I was very disappointed to see Government backbenchers expressing what is maybe a U-turn in what the programme for Government was talking about in 2020 on school patronage. It does not seem to appear in the current programme for Government, which I am a little bit concerned about. With 94% of primary schools being under religious ethos, that means only 6% are not. In areas like my own, 79% of parents are not identifying as Catholic. I did serve on the board of Educate Together with Mary O'Rourke, and I was very happy to do so, and I know the Taoiseach has been a supporter. There needs, however, to be clarity from the Government as to exactly what its stance is. I urge the Taoiseach to be very clear so that parents understand what exactly the Government's position is now on school patronage.

We are, and have been, very clear and the investment shows it. There have been some first-class multidenominational schools built. I have opened one or two of them in the last two to three years. These are first class, state-of-the-art provision. It is likewise in Catholic voluntary schools, Church of Ireland schools, Gaelscoileanna, Gaelcholáistí and a variety of schools. Plurality of school provision and parental choice is where the Government policy sits.

We need to sweat our assets more. Where it is logical for divestment or where a school building is available, it should be used and enhanced. This makes value for money. That issue cannot always be the last item on the agenda. We should focus on it strongly as well.