Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I apologise to the delegates for missing their presentations, but I had to attend another meeting.

I am here because Monasterevin is in my constituency. I acknowledge the role of the Chairman in facilitating this meeting, thus allowing important points to be raised.

I am very familiar with St. Paul's secondary school in Monasterevin. I am also aware of the work done by Mr. Bergin, as well as the distress he, his staff and the community in general have experienced. My main focus is on hearing what the officials have to say, questioning them and holding them to account. Each of the cases in the specific schools is personal to the delegates who want this meeting to produce results, either today or in the very near future. However, the committee must learn from the mistakes made because there is a crossover in the experiences of each school.

Earlier I listened to the delegates speak on the radio and some of the same points were made about a lack of communication and the stress caused for the principals. I have no doubt that the members of the committee will take all of the points made on board and try to improve the processes used in order that other principals and parents' associations will not have to go through the same experience.

On the specific challenges faced by St. Paul's secondary school in Monasterevin and how the situation has continued for as long for a litany of reasons, it has been harrowing to listen to the tales of frustration voiced at public meetings in recent times. I can only imagine the stress Mr. Bergin has experienced in trying to handle his frustrated staff, whom I have met, who must work in substandard conditions. As he said, the pupils do not know any better and accept the situation. I agree with him that they are entitled to so much more and well believe the conditions are a huge source of frustration. I want to make sure we will hold the officials to account. While the issue is very personal, I am sure the same is true for the other schools. St. Paul's secondary school's piece is important for all of south Kildare owing to the knock-on impact on surrounding towns and areas. Every day buses loaded with pupils leave Monasterevin to travel to other schools because a new school has not been built in the town. I look forward to hearing what the officials have to say and thank them for their attendance.