Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I do not want an immediate reply to my question on additional resources for English for overseas students but will the Minister ask the Department to look at this? In fairness, the larger schools are under severe pressure with overseas students. They do a fabulous job. Will the Minister acknowledge that? The school I am referring to is almost up to the 25% level. This is something that could be given to the school but we must acknowledge what the schools are doing and what they have done. It is difficult for teachers when a pupil comes in with little English. Yet, then within two or three years the pupil is absolutely fluent and very much part and parcel of the place. In the classes my children are in, there could be three, four or five different nationalities. This is an area of concern. We have seen this in Ireland in recent years. The teachers have done a fantastic job in giving fluency in English and making this fit into the classroom. It is not only about spending time to ensure the pupils fit in with the peers and everything like that as well. I appeal to the Minister personally to look at this one area. I do not want a reply from the Minister now.