Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I congratulate both Ministers on their appointments. From my involvement in a school board of management I know first-hand of the difficulty schools are experiencing. Their greatest worry is the worry of not knowing. We have had Zoom meetings and round-table meetings during the past few weeks. They do not know if they are going to get an extra cleaning grant to pay for extra hours required so that cleaning can happen. The boards of management and parents associations cannot be expected to fundraise as they have been doing for years. This time it cannot be done. They do not know if the capitation grant will be raised this year, although it needs to happen. Is there a transport plan or clarification on extra school buses being approved or provided? What about the seating plans on the buses? Will the children have to wear face masks? Overall, is there a plan in place? Is it still being figured out? Many schools are concerned that emergency grants and additional accommodation grants will not materialise. Will they be available? Will they be cut this year?

Schools have sought these grants. I thank the Minister and her Department for the funds granted recently to Dreeny national school in Skibbereen and Scoil Mhuire na nGrást in Belgooly. These funds were needed for urgent works to be carried out. The green light for funding was given, and the schools have asked me to convey their thanks to the Department for that.

I visited Rath national school in Baltimore, west Cork, last week which needs urgent funds. The process has been dragging on for two years and I urge the Minister to consider this case. I asked that the revised budget for education accommodate this school.

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