Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I can tell the Minister straight that if he moves to Ashbourne today, there is a good likelihood there will be no place for his child at school. That is not acceptable but it is the reality that we are finding on the ground. We are finding that Irish citizen children are being told to go back a year by officials from Tusla and the Department, or go back a year in another village in another county. That is not acceptable. I have to say I totally reject the Department's contention that there is no capacity issue in County Meath. There is a major capacity issue today in County Meath and we have to get to grips with it. This child is entitled to go to school and to senior infants. The Constitution guarantees that. The Minister, his Department, Tusla and whoever else are responsible have to ensure that. I found it quite shocking that Tusla is separately responsible for arranging school places. They somehow have to talk to the Department, which is not providing the places. That joined-up process has to happen as well. It is one thing that I have noticed is completely absent. There are children there who cannot exercise their constitutional rights to go to school. That right must surely be to a local school and not having to travel distances past numerous other schools.

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