Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE) | Oireachtas source

I want to ask about Firhouse Educate Together secondary school. I previously submitted a written question about this issue. To cut a very long story for those parents short, there had been an agreement to start in September in Firhouse, where the school is located. What is being said now by the Department is that, because of the coronavirus, they will have to go to Citywest. I had an answer from the Minister to my parliamentary question today stating that the "Department is in on-going communication with the Patron Bodies concerned regarding all options". It is simply not an option for the parents in Firhouse to be asked to trek across to Citywest. There are many testimonies from families, such as the McGahons, stating it simply will not work for them. They currently walk to school in ten minutes and they will be asked now to drive to school in 30 minutes, in a situation where many students have special needs etc.

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