Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Labour Party for tabling this timely motion, which touches on a number of important issues, one of which is the lack of capacity in school transport. Across the State, students and families that had relied on school transport for years were suddenly displaced last year. The Government had no plan to increase capacity meaningfully and left children on the side of the road. We are awaiting the review, which the Minister keeps saying is due shortly, but can there be at least flexibility this year to ensure every child has a seat on a bus? I am asking for flexibility because, ahead of the closing date for applications for school transport, there are people who will not know which school their children will be attending and where they will be living come next September. There has to be flexibility, and the Minister must guarantee it today.

The provision of special education is an ongoing crisis for families and students, with families pleading for places for their children and a complete disregard for the rights of children with different learning needs. This happens repeatedly. If these issues did not need to be fixed, we would not be debating this motion.

The Government is conducting a review of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004, or the EPSEN Act, but what people want to know is where the money is going. We say that every child will have a place, but the fact is that every child is not equal and does not have a place. Almost 20 years later, the Act has not been even fully implemented.

The annual publication of the special needs assistance allocation occurs far too late in the year in mid-to-late May. This shows a lack of respect for SNAs and does not allow the appropriate time for school planning. For a fourth year, the results of the leaving certificate will be delayed into September, which will cause a scramble for accommodation and planning difficulties for third level institutions.

It also makes it difficult for students from the North to apply for a college place in the South. They get the UCAS offer much earlier and have to decide whether to accept it before they even get an offer from the colleges in the South. I have repeatedly flagged this to the Minister but it seems to have fallen on deaf ears.

The motion correctly states that the introduction of free school books at primary level is welcome. However, schools are still under-funded and too many education costs fall on parents. The main reason for this motion is the fact that 58 schools have seen capital projects grind to a halt without any real explanation. The delays are likely to affect tens of thousands of students who in many cases have been in temporary accommodation and prefabs for years. This is yet another example of the Government's complete inability to deliver capital projects.

One of the schools impacted by this incompetence is Davitt College in Castlebar. It is the largest school in Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim ETB area. I went to visit this school recently. There is an absolute frustration, anger and disappointment among the management and staff there. Those feelings extend to parents and to the wider community of the Castlebar area. Two years ago, a commitment was made that if the school increased its number of students by 170, the necessary construction would be delivered. The corridors of the school are overcrowded. The canteen is not fit-for-purpose and there are no facilities for vulnerable students. The school has sanction for two special classes but no physical rooms available. Last August, a small special educational needs base was converted to accommodate the autism spectrum disorder, ASD, class but it is not fit-for-purpose either. This September, Davitt College gave a commitment to open two ASD classes. Enrolment has been already accepted for next year. The school was informed on 30 January that the building had stopped. This was mere weeks after the first workers and machines arrived on site. The management spoke of the relief among staff that construction was starting. The school is relying on portacabins, essentially portable prefabs. They are even narrower than other prefabs. Due to these delays, staff and students are facing another year of overcrowding and substandard facilities. Davitt College in Castlebar is the biggest school in the area. I ask the Minister to look at what was promised for this school. It must be sorted out.

I commend the teachers, staff and everyone involved in Davitt College because they are going above and beyond the call of duty. They are doing Trojan work. They are making every inch of space in that school count to create an environment for students that is conducive to them fulfilling their educational potential but they must not be left behind. Will the Minister ensure this project is delivered in its entirety for County Mayo and Castlebar?

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