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

I wish to raise an issue with the Minister before referring to July provision. It is an issue that I raised here last year relating to Firhouse Educate Together secondary school. We thought we had it resolved. A permanent site has been located for the school and the tendering process for building work has been gone through which is really exciting and also very important. A temporary site had been located to accommodate the pupils from the school in the interim period, pending the completion of the permanent school building. The Department has now rejected the temporary site for the school and wants the pupils from Firhouse Educate Together post-primary school to travel to City West which is 10 km away. This raises social distancing issues on the bus, on top of all of the arguments that I made this time last year. I ask the Minister to look at this and revert to me on it. The school needs four to eight classrooms. That is all that is required. The students are occupying the existing Firhouse Educate Together gaelscoil at the moment and there could be capacity within the area but the Department needs to initiate discussion and action on it.

On July provision, I welcome the inclusion of children with Down's syndrome. July provision is voluntary and perhaps some aspects of it could be made mandatory by the Department because it is a programme in which children with special needs thrive. I know that the Minister accepts that and will be issuing guidelines on Friday. I have already been contacted by parents from my constituency who have said that a number of schools have already said they are not doing it. Can the Minister to explain why? Can an explanation be given to parents? School building works are preventing some schools from offering the programme. Could the Department encourage boards of management to consider using community centres or other local facilities? I ask the Minister to provide an explanation, in writing if necessary, as to why some schools are saying no if there is a willingness on the part of teachers to voluntarily participate in the programme. Is it health and safety concerns or what is involved? Where do the teacher organisations stand on this issue?

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