Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)

We are speaking about a school which is losing 30 or 40 pupils and would prefer to have another teacher, but it is not the crisis the Opposition is making out. Most of the other schools in question are not in my constituency. This school would prefer to hire a teacher to replace the retiring teacher but it is not the end of the world or a crisis and it is unfair of the Opposition to imply this is the case.

Major progress is being made with €380 million extra this year for teachers' pay and pensions. This is not an insignificant amount of money. It is a substantial amount of money to provide teachers where they are needed and ensure schools in developing areas and anywhere else with increasing numbers are provided with the teachers required.

With regard to Scoil an Spioraid Naoimh in Laytown, the Minister may be aware that an issue arose as it temporarily housed Scoil Oilibhéir Naofa on its grounds. The temporary prefabs erected during the crisis have been removed and Scoil Oilibhéir Naofa has a new building and will have a permanent building soon. However, the foundations and remains of some of the temporary buildings are still there.

I know the Minister is working on approving the funding to clear up the yard. Scoil an Spioraid Naoimh played a major role in accommodating Scoil Oilibhéir Naofa under extremely difficult circumstances. It gave up its gym and most of the yard. Will the Minister look favourably on the representations being made and allocate the cash to clean up the yard? The school did a fantastic job and the people involved were extremely helpful under difficult circumstances. They do not want to be down a teacher but it is not the crisis the Opposition is making out and there are far more serious issues with regard to school buildings——

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