Pauline Tully (Sinn Fein)

I have a few questions. I am aware of several schools looking for classes and reaching out because they recognise a need within the school population or among incoming junior infants or first years. Are schools with physical space getting priority over schools without such space, despite the fact the need might be greater in the school without the physical space? I know some building works have been sanctioned, but there are delays in this regard too. Basically, are budgetary constraints impacting schools opening classes where there is an identifiable need?

Some schools do not have classes, do not want classes and are resisting opening a class. We see more classes in other schools. These could be schools that already have two classes and are then forced to open a third one, whereas other schools are trying to avoid opening classes. Can something be done about ensuring other schools open classes? I see this issue particularly in certain types of second level schools.

One thing that came up from the earlier presentation was the SNA allocation being very late. Is it envisaged this will be much earlier next year? Another question concerns a case I raised with Mr. Kearney. It concerns a school that knows there is an incoming need that will require additional resources. For a school in that situation to enrol students and know it will be able to provide for their needs, it will need to know it will get an increased allocation, yet it did not. It is like a chicken-and-egg situation. How can schools accept and enrol children without knowing in a timely fashion that the resources will be there to accommodate the needs of those children?