Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State. I appreciate all the information outlined in his response. The ideal outcome is that the school gets the hot meals programme reinstated as a matter of urgency because its withdrawal has caused considerable distress for the pupils and staff. The situation arising in the first instance indicates that there is a wider picture issue here around the amalgamation supports the school is receiving from the Department. I believe that Ennistymon Community School should qualify for full DEIS status in its own right. The principal has told me that the school has an exceptionally high level of need, with more than 100 students who are under the protection of the State, and yet has not got near the provision of DEIS that is required to meet the needs of the Ennistymon Community School community. I ask the Minister of State, Deputy Browne, to speak with his colleague, the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley - as I will - to urgently review the DEIS status of this school which, due to building delays, is spread across the town on three different campuses.

The school community has enough issues to contend with, especially as the harsh weather picks up and as they move from building to building. I find it incredibly difficult even to find the phone number of this new school in its new form and that is massively concerning.

I must remind the Government that we are in the grips of a cost-of-living crisis that is not going away anytime soon. There are food banks being operated by the fantastic family resource centres across my constituency, but they simply cannot keep up with the demand. The vast majority of families in Clare are barely keeping their heads above water. We cannot turn our backs on our vulnerable children. I sincerely hope the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Humphreys, and the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, and I can work together to ensure that going forward these students and this school community have as much support as possible as they navigate this tricky journey to full amalgamation.

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