Noel Treacy (Galway East, Fianna Fail)

I support my colleague, Deputy Burke, and I endorse his comments. We come from the constituency of Galway East where there are both urban and rural disadvantaged areas. The only positive aspect of an urban disadvantaged area is that the affected children have a choice of schools and some opportunity. However, in a rurally disadvantaged area there is no such choice and only one school. This is especially the case in mid and south County Galway along the Slieve Aughty mountain range and near the border with County Clare. In this area only one third of the population is employed and two thirds are unemployed. There is an outstanding school with an outstanding, positive attitude to all children. There are 30 special needs children in the school population. There is in place a whole school evaluation and performance system which also addresses the curriculum and subject choices. I appeal to the Minister for Education and Science to allow for the continuation ad infinitum of the DEIS programme, in line with the Departmental circular of May 2007.

Mercy College, Woodford is in a critical location. If there is to be any diminution of the services there will be a serious reduction in the numbers attending second level education, resulting in difficulties and social disadvantages. This will compound the existing situation, whereby the people are already playing against the wind and require every possible State support. These are necessary to sustain this outstanding centre of educational excellence in South Galway, an area which Deputy Burke and I are proud to represent and support.

We depend on the Minister of State and the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe. We realise the Department will treat each school on a case-by-case basis and take into account the mix of students, the disadvantages and the fact that the school population is multicultural. There were people of many nationalities living in the parish before the advent of the Celtic tiger. We appeal to the Minister of State to ensure the school receives special attention and that the provision of specialist supports continues.

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