Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

During discussions on the formation of a Government two years ago and on the programme for Government, many promises were made in the area of education, one being equal pay for teachers, which we have yet to see delivered but this is not the subject I will speak on today. On page 92, the programme for Government states "We are committed to delivering a school capital investment programme for extensions/refurbishments [to cater for] additional school places". It goes on to note that "Significant funding has been secured as part of the Capital Plan." This is another promise which I can prove is not being delivered on.

Two years later these words in the programme for Government mean nothing to dozens of families of children seeking to go to St. Brogan's College, Bandon. Over the past four months these parents have been living a nightmare as their children were put on a waiting list for entering the school in September 2018. St. Brogan's is a victim of its own success, in that the school's positive attitude and excellent staff have made it attractive to many families. More important, subjects are suited to certain students and in an era where parents and children sit down together and choose the best school for their child with the subjects that are on offer, St. Brogan's makes that choice somewhat easier for them.

All this has meant that the school must cater for more students than it has room for. The Department of Education and Skills may have sanctioned four additional classrooms but this is all too late for the many who are at the moment being left outside the door. One child, both of whose parents both attended St. Brogan's, and who lives only a few dozen feet from the school, across the road, cannot be taken in due to overcrowding. This child is heartbroken as he is the only child in his classroom who did not get a place. I spoke to another mother as late as last night who said that she is not sending her child to any other school as this is best suited for her child. Another father cannot understand why his son cannot get a place in the school he was educated in. These genuine stories are endless. I am dealing with many more families in the Bandon school catchment area with extremely difficult stories who want to send their children to this school but they will not be accepted as there is no more room. The school has written to the families to say that it cannot cater for the children but when I speak to these families they still hold out hope that their children will be accepted because they know, as I do, that this can be resolved simply.

In light of the additional classrooms not being in place on time for September, will the Department of Education and Skills work with the education and training board, ETB, and the school and immediately put in train works that will put temporary classrooms in place in St. Brogan's by September, thus catering for the many children left outside the door?

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