Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State. The 2016 census demonstrated through the measurement of the levels of disadvantage that all areas of Belturbet fell into either the marginally below average or very disadvantaged category. That represented a deterioration in comparison to the position following the 2006 census. The Pobal map shows that the largest population currently resides in the most disadvantaged area of Belturbet. It is an area of significant disadvantage. One good initiative undertaken by the education and training board in recent years through the Department of Children and Youth Affairs in partnership with the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children and Youth Work Ireland was the introduction of an intervention programme designed to target older children deemed to be at risk. The programme is necessary and worthwhile.

The Department has classified the school incorrectly in that it is included in the rural instead of the urban classification. That is a misreading of the position at official level. That the school should have urban status is demonstrated by the fact that it is a participant in the non-statutory school meals local project scheme which is funded by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection. A school has to have urban status to be included in the scheme. There is a difference in designation between the two Departments. It is a small town school which should have urban status. On its own initiative, the school established the role of home-school liaison officer in 1997. Even at the time, it recognised the need to provide additional support for children and families. All of these factors should be taken into consideration.

The principal, Ms Breege Flynn, and her staff would not look for something unless it was needed, nor would the chairman or members of the board of management or the parents association. The school community works in the best interests of the children and the local community. I would not table a Topical Issues matter unless I thought the application merited serious, urgent and favourable consideration. I appreciate that the Minister of State will speak to the Minister about the application, but I appeal to him to do so in the strongest terms.

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