Dáil debates

Tuesday, 28 July 2020

Future of School Education: Motion [Private Members]

 

10:45 pm

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

I thank Sinn Féin for bringing forward this motion. I would like to start by thanking the Minister and her Department for all of their effort and success in helping schools throughout west Cork to receive urgent funding recently. Dreeny National School in Skibbereen needed to carry out emergency works. Scoil Mhuire na nGrást in Belgooly required emergency works in conjunction with Irish Water. Rath National School was also awarded funding last week. All of the schools involved want to acknowledge that they have gotten the green light to carry out urgent works and the funding is greatly appreciated. Some schools in west Cork are starved for funds for urgent works, but I will say little about the schools in Ballydehob and Castletownbere for now because I need to speak to the motion.

I agree with the process of reducing class sizes, with the objective of achieving a pupil-teacher ratio in line with the EU. While this is important, there are immediate issues of concern in schools today. I received phone calls yesterday and today from principals in some rural schools in west Cork who are concerned that the roadmap for reopening schools seems to be aimed more at city schools than rural schools. The Minister might be able to provide some clarity on this.

Some of my constituents have said that it appears that the teaching posts in the roadmap are for post-primary schools rather than primary schools. Is this the case?

Schools have a lot of questions which I hope the Minister can answer. How will shared resources teaching work during the pandemic when some teachers are shared between three schools? Substitute panels have been set to work in 60 centres, none of which seem to cover west of Cork city. I stand to be corrected.

Part of the motion is correct when it calls for the Government to ensure class sizes of 30 students and above are abolished. I appreciate the motion being brought forward.

School transport is of serious concern to many parents and a lot of clarity is needed. I respect that this is a difficult time for the Minister. I resent some of the criticism she is getting because she is a new Minister. I wish her the very best and I hope we can work together to resolve a lot of the issues in west Cork and throughout the country.

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