Shane Cassells (Meath West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for the response and I appreciate he gets many such requests. However, the context for engaging with him on this particular file is the fact the school was awarded an additional teacher in 2011 and the plans to progress the much-needed facilities were never implemented. The school needs positive engagement with the Department. I ask the Minister to re-examine that technical issue of how it lost out, in particular in the context of how that has now compounded the cramped facilities. The school management has requested a reappraisal with Brian O'Connell from the buildings works section and a request for a meeting to discuss the intricate nature of the required works has been sent to Tona Redmond in the school capital appraisal section. In the first instance, I ask that the Minister would ensure this meeting goes ahead, that there is positive engagement in terms of the officials actually looking at the case file from 2011, given there is a need to revisit the events that occurred at that time, and that the pressing need to develop facilities is examined.

They are good kids. As I said, the Minister knows this part of the county very well. They just want simple, basic facilities.

In order for the school to provide whiteboards, the principal had to acquire them from another school that was throwing its boards out because it was getting upgraded equipment. The school is literally living on the clippings of tin. Just because it is out of the main gaze of the media and not in a big town or this city does not mean its pupils do not deserve the same crack at life as anyone living in this city or any big town.

When one walks through the front door of the tiny little school, one is struck by the amazing wall of achievement. It nurtures every little child as one of its own. It is rightly proud of how a current member of the famed All Blacks team is a past pupil. I would desperately love it if on the next occasion Beauden Barrett and his family visit, they will be able to see a school that will encourage the next generation of young scholars and sports stars in this part of County Meath. They visit regularly and I met Beauden's dad in Oldcastle last year.

Dr. Ann Bennett, who is the principal, Fr. Philip O'Connor and all the people of Ballinacree are willing to play their part in working with the Department to see the facilities they require developed. I passionately request that the Minister meet them half way on the road to help them to do so.

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