Eileen Flynn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

We have the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, and the Department of Education. Trying to get something done for a school is often complicated. I must use an example I know best, if that is okay. St. Mary's National School in Ardara needs a zebra crossing. It is a lovely little school that is the heart of the community for the town's children. It is expanding every year and has brilliant teachers. We have tried hard, as has Deputy Pringle, to get a zebra crossing for outside the school. This is a major health and safety problem for the children. Before and after school, teachers walk children across if there are ten or 12 going to school by themselves. I would like to know more about who is responsible for safety at road crossings. Usually, they are handled as part of the building work.

For the past three years I have been involved with it, Donegal ETB has worked hard. It now has to face issues with mica, with many schools in Donegal and beyond being affected. What is the Department doing to ensure these schools are safe?

One of my colleagues spoke about prefabs. They are not fit for long-term use. They should only be used for five to ten years tops. In many cases they are used for additional special classes. A few months ago, Loreto Secondary School in Letterkenny got an ASD unit. That was welcome. In Donegal and elsewhere in rural Ireland, we hear stories of it taking some children as much as two hours to get to their special schools.

We should not accept that. Again, the question of responsibility is not clear. On the crèche in Ardara, we recognise the early schooling of our children as education but, if there is an issue with the crèche, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth is responsible. Many schools in Donegal are having their buildings tested for mica. What is going to happen there? Who has responsibility? Does the Department know how many schools in Donegal are impacted by mica? What is the solution?

On transport and Traveller education, a school is more than bricks and mortar. The buildings are part of it but we need services. We can leave that as a story for another day if the witnesses prefer. On the capacity and the numbers of children in the schools, in 2010, Traveller education was cut by 86%. I was one of a number of young people in Labre Park to complete a leaving certificate in 2008 because we had transport. We were able to get the bus to school in the morning and home from school afterwards. That service to bring children from the Traveller community to school has been cut by 100%. Is there any update on that? Is there any way to get some of that funding back to get children from disadvantaged areas to school because, in many cases, transport is a very big obstacle preventing children getting to school? Those are just some minor clarifications I am looking for. I am not going to repeat what other Deputies and Senators have said.