Keira Keogh (Mayo, Fine Gael)

To be fair to the Minister, she is working closely with me on it. There is a principal I met in August who came in to try and resolve issues like this. He is stressed beyond belief. He has kids in long-term palliative care. The school is already down SNAs and is being told it must enrol these two children. A parent shared with the school an email in which a SENO advised the parent to take section 39 action against the school. The principal says he wants to take in these two children and has sent them enrolment forms but cannot safely take them in. If we are to be honest, then these children have school places but we are on week 3 and they are at home. The principal still does not know if he is going to get SNAs. If he gets approval for SNAs, he then has to advertise for them and interview and train them. It is going to be into October when these kids start school. When we say the number of kids waiting for school places is in the single digits, that might be technically true, but there are probably many children at home. We have to be really clear with the NCSE and SENOs to actively work and support principals rather than putting them under increased pressure.