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

I acknowledge and thank Deputy Byrne for bringing this important motion before the House. I also thank the Minister of State sincerely for coming to County Kerry last week and for going to Ardfert national school. Her visit was very well received. There was delight that she took time out of her schedule to go there. She was most welcome. Any time she might want to come back to Kerry and she has a bit of good news that she might bring with her, we will welcome her with open arms. There is no pressure but do not come empty-handed.

This is a most sincere and terribly important motion. I have dealt, as everyone else has, with families who have had terrible difficulty in getting their children to school because of homelessness and the disruption that causes in lives. The upset of not having a proper home, or a place that can be called a permanent home, creates much strife and upset. Schooling can fall to one side and that is why every possible measure has to be put in place to ensure stability for our young students. I say that because children and young people are at an important formative stage in their lives from six up to 12 or 13 years old. They need stability, routine, and the security of knowing their teachers and not being sent from Billy to Jack. Our teachers are willing and care about the students who come to them. All they want to do is help those students. It is up to us, as politicians, however, to make sure we put in place the measures, the funding and the requirements needed. It is bad enough if young people are suffering from uncertainty as to where their home is. We want to ensure that education will continue for students in that situation. That is crucially important and cannot be emphasised enough.

I turn to the structure of our schools and in particular our national schools. As Deputy Collins stated, many of boards of management are struggling trying to fundraise. Teachers and boards of management should be able to concentrate on education. Those people are not meant to be financial gurus. They are not supposed to have to be out having race nights, golfing classics and nights at the dogs to raise funds. That is not their job. Their job is to teach and educate people. They never signed up to be some sort of funding experts. It is not an election they are trying to fund. They are trying to educate young people. I feel very strongly about that. It seems to be the trend that schools are not getting enough from the Department and so they have to fundraise themselves. That is terribly unfair and it is putting an unfair burden on people. I thank Deputy Byrne again for bringing this motion before the House.

See this speech in context