Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

That is welcome. I agree with the Minister that LIS funding should come from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. If it did, there would be more money for the Minister to give to rural communities which is what he is all about. Killinkere national school is very curtailed in what it can do and there are many schools in the same position across the country. For instance, the car park is actually located across the road from it and there is no safe drop-off point. The principal and school management do their best to ensure the school is as safe as possible, but the car park is still located across the road and tremendous worry, angst and frustration have been experienced in the community for many years. Therefore, I ask the Minister to be mindful of the need for flexibility in that regard in any further announcement he will make on CLÁR funding. Funding for projects such as this is not easy to attain for small primary schools in the countryside. The Minister's role is making countryside communities and rural areas thrive. CLÁR funding has had a great influence in that regard. However, I make the case again for Killinkere national school. It has applied unsuccessfully for CLÁR funding before, but the parents' association, board of management, staff and management are anxious to access it now to make their school a safer place.

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