Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I ask for common sense in this debate. For the small amount of €10,000 and the massive payback we get in the locality, is it worth it or not? I do not care whether the €10,000 by which we are short is to be funded by Cork County Council, the Department of Education and Skills or elsewhere. It is a very small amount of money and it is common sense to provide it as the economic benefit is massive for the island and the surrounding areas. It will send out the wrong message if this course falls because of a shortage of €10,000. I ask the Minister with responsibility for the islands, the Minister for Education and Skills and other stakeholders to have a meeting as a matter of urgency to safeguard this extremely important course. When five people are living on an island who did not live there previously and they like the area, that is what we want.

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