John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

My first question concerns a local issue but it could be transposed to many schools nationally. It concerns Scoil Naomh Pádraig in Ballyroan where the principal has had to write to parents to say that the existing five junior infants classes will become four classes in September because, while having 99.3% of the pupils required, they are four pupils short of getting that extra teacher. What that means is that instead of having classes in their low to mid twenties, which is still in excess of the European average, the school will now have class sizes in excess of 30 and will lose one teacher as a consequence. This is an austere measure never mind in the context of social distancing. Will the Minister comment on that? There needs to be some flexibility and discretion. It involves the schools just being four pupils short and having 99.3% of the pupils required for an additional teacher.

My second question concerns fifth year. This is my first opportunity to talk about it. It has come up and the Minister has answered it. What is the progress with regard to his thinking on current fifth year students and their sitting of the leaving certificate in 2021?

See this speech in context