Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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I thank the Minister for her briefing on the various issues. I welcome that class sizes are to be reduced again. Speaking as a former teacher, you cannot teach effectively and meet children's needs and the various abilities found in a classroom when it is a crowded. As such, the reduction is welcome. I also welcome the free schoolbooks initiative. It is a great initiative and one that I called for previously. I wholeheartedly welcome the capital investment in school buildings of €4.4 billion.

Those were the positives. Now, I wish to ask about reinstating the educational disadvantage committee. It was a fantastic committee through whose great work DEIS was initiated. Has there been any discussion of reinstating it? It advised on policy, did fantastic work and was good value for money.

I understand that €860 million in capital investment is available for this year. That is welcome, but I am concerned about St. Brendan's Community School in my constituency. It has DEIS status. I have mentioned how glazing work was to be done at the school three years ago. The school received a commitment that it would be done under the summer works scheme last year. The school has a serious problem. Every time it rains, it causes a hazard because of, for example, wet floors. The school community is at the end of its tether with the issue. I would warmly welcome any assistance the Minister could give in trying to resolve the problem.

The school was also approved for an autism spectrum disorder, ASD, unit four years ago, yet no progress has been made. There is considerable demand for places in ASD units. We spoke about this issue to representatives from the Department who appeared before the committee last week. The school needs assistance with both matters. I have emailed the details. I would be grateful for the Minister's assistance.

Deputy Ó Laoghaire referenced school transport. I understand that a review is taking place. It is welcome. There have been problems with the scheme every year. It is something that I have raised with every Minister for Education since entering the Dáil. Every year, Deputies are guaranteed to receive representations about problems. The nearest school rule causes many problems for communities every year. When will the review be published and is it examining the nearest school rule? Will it make some provision in that regard or remove the rule altogether?