Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Social Democrats for this important Private Members' business. It is a serious issue in County Kerry, where many schools are coming to me about seeking help from the Department of Education with the staffing crisis, which has left many vulnerable pupils without specialised support. There is a critical time in a young person's life when he or she needs direct intervention and assistance. If the school the young person is attending is suffering staffing shortages at that time, then the child and his or her parents will spend the following years trying to catch up. This is not acceptable. When a child needs assistance, support and extra tuition and guidance but those are not available at a critical time, the child will fall behind. Schools and principals I am dealing with all around the county of Kerry are telling me that they are experiencing these problems. At a time when so much in taxes is being paid by the hard-working parents and other taxpayers of Ireland, it is not good enough that we do not have adequate resources in our schools when we need them.

I plead with the Minister of State on behalf of the principals, who work so hard with their teachers, boards of management and priests. Many Deputies would hate to recognise the value of priests and the Catholic religion, but I support them-----

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