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

I, too, thank the Labour Party for this motion. Schools like St. Oliver’s in Killarney, the Presentation in Killarney and St. Brendan’s Secondary School have had a massive increase in the number of pupils because of the influx of the Ukrainian fraternity. They need more facilities. Schools in places like Faha, Listry, Fossa, Teernaboul and Raheen have all done wonderful work. The teachers and all the people working in those schools have done wonderful work, but they need more facilities to cater for the massive influx. This is urgent. It is an emergency. I hope the application from Knocknagree National School is not one of the 58 because it has been on the list for a long time.

There are other issues such as school transport. There is a difficulty with acquiring new buses. Contractors have asked that the 20-year rule be extended for two or three more years. If a bus is in good working order and passes the test, it should be allowed to continue in service.

We need more SNAs. Early assessment for children with autism is vital. Parents are at their wits’ end trying to get early assessments and the current situation is not good enough.

Another vital part of education that has developed are the crèches. The people working in them do not get paid when the school term finishes.

They should be employed all year round like teachers.

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