Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin (Wicklow-Wexford, Sinn Fein)

This may have been covered earlier when I was not here. My first question relates to the NCSE and why the reviews were postponed until September. A parent in Ferns contacted me this week, who was in great distress. Her five-year-old child with Down's syndrome would not be allowed to enter the school in September even though her preschool friends would be going there, because there is no SNA. She emphasised that the school was doing everything it could to facilitate but it said that unfortunately it cannot request a review from the NCSE because all reviews had been postponed until September. I am wondering about the reason for this. Perhaps it was covered earlier.

My second question is about a primary school in the Gorey area and the delay in coming back with the review of the assessment of needs. The principal contacted me to say the school had done an assessment of needs to determine what SNAs would be needed on 4 April. Now it is coming up to the summer and he said there was a fear that teachers, SNAs or even the principal himself could be out on assault leave because of an escalation in aggression. He was wondering what the delay was in getting back to the school. I can provide details later if that is any help.

I have been teaching at primary level for 34 years. I have seen many young colleagues come and go. Many have left for Dubai, Abu Dhabi and places like that. I am wondering about retention. What do we plan to do to incentivise Irish teachers to come home? I know this has been looked at in other areas.

My last question is about school buildings. I raised this in the Chamber. I know that school buildings are often a challenge when it comes to provision for special education. In my parish, we have Ballyfad National School. Sadly, after 70 years, it is closing its doors the week after next. It is a fantastic building. It has a hall next door which is the broadband hub for the area. It overlooks a unique type of natural woodland. It is close to the sea. It has a specially constructed sensory trail in the woods. Many people locally think it would be an ideal location for a special school or such facilities, rather than having it lying there. It is perfectly located on the Wicklow-Wexford border, just between Gorey and Arklow. Could Ballyfad National School be looked at?