Dáil debates

Tuesday, 25 April 2006

Requests to move Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 31.

 

5:00 pm

Photo of Catherine MurphyCatherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)

I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 on a matter of national and local importance. The Department of Education and Science funded the construction of a 16-teacher school in Naas, County Kildare, Scoil Bríde, but despite the fact there are extremely high pupil-teacher ratios in other primary schools in Naas, that pupils are forced to use gym rooms as classrooms, and that children requiring remedial resources must travel by taxi from Naas to Tallaght, the fully equipped Scoil Bríde, which opened last September, will enrol only two junior infant classes per year.

The only reason for that appalling situation is that the other schools in Naas will not agree a common enrolment policy that would allow the school to be opened fully. Is the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Hanafin, in charge of our schools, or are they entirely autonomous? I call on her to intervene in this matter immediately to ensure the children of Naas have the best possible start in life and are able to attend a fully staffed school, with lower pupil-teacher ratios and appropriate resources for all. Enrolment policies must not be bargaining tools for school authorities, which should instead focus solely on the child's best interests. I have a petition signed by 4,500 people from Naas to deliver to the Minister for Education and Science.

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