Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I apologise for leaving for a few minutes. On Mr. Loftus's final point, I can tell him very clearly that, under the confidence and supply agreement, certainty in respect of minor works grants will have to be provided in the forthcoming budget.

I am glad Mr. Loftus mentioned Ashbourne.

This morning I received an email from another parent who cannot get their child into any school in Ashbourne, of which there are five. They cannot get into a school in Ratoath and they have not received a reply from any other schools in the area. I cannot believe the decision will be made in October as the school year starts this week. It is a joke. A student wrote the email about his little brother, in fact. I had thought it was his dad.

I will not be going to the Department of Education and Skills about this but will approach the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. It seems there is no liaison between the two Departments and it is obvious the Department of Education and Skills is not getting information from the Department of Children and Youth Affairs to the effect that there is a major crisis in Ashbourne, about which I have been talking for the past couple of years. The witnesses said the decision will be taken in October but the kid needs a decision this week, along with other children in the same situation.