Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)

Does the Minister differentiate between children who are chronically ill and those who are receiving the home tuition grant because they are not able to find suitable school accommodation? The Educate Together school in Celbridge contains two units which have been lying vacant for the past three years. This school is in the constituency with the highest pupil-teacher ratio so there is no shortage of children. When are these units likely to open because they would help parents who are seeking home tuition and I am certain there would be sufficient children to fill that school, which contains 12 very precious places?

The Minister said parents do not have problems locating teachers, but I hear another side of this story and I am sure other Deputies do as well. I hear that parents are very concerned about sourcing a teacher. They do not feel qualified to source a teacher themselves and the Department needs to have a proper database which would provide assistance in doing this. Does the Minister agree?

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