Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)

I was at a school gate this day last year and I met a parent whom I know extremely well. They did not know where their child was going in August 2024. I could not say how much it affected me as a public representative of a long time. I worked with them right through the summer and we did get a place. The day I got this job, I said, “That is my light. That is what is going to drive me.” I worked with might and main. I get very challenged by looking back at that 12 months ago today. We have a lot of work done but we have an awful lot of work to do to make sure we have clear guidance for where children will go to big school and all the rest of it.

The new circular issued to all schools in May. I am not sure exactly when but it was some time towards the end of May. It said that this time last year, 1 February was the date by which families were to notify the NCSE. This year, it is 1 October, which means we will have to work extremely hard - the NCSE, Department of Education and all of us here on this committee or anyone with an interest in it - to ensure we have places for schools for children by 31 December. That is our commitment on that. We cannot have a situation where everybody else is saying where they are going to big school and some child in the class does not know where that school will be. That is not acceptable in 2025.