Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank everyone who contributed to this debate. Earlier I met people from Waterford with Deputies David Cullinane and Conor D. McGuinness and people from Laois with Senator Maria McCormack. A number of people have contacted us through different forums. What we hear from parents, which is something they want the Minister to hear, is that they feel that their children are being left behind. What they say to me and my colleagues is that as parents they are exhausted, heartbroken and frustrated but they are resolute and determined for the love of their own children to see this through. The Minister needs to hear that. I am sure she is well aware of it but I want to make sure that she is.

This situation is totally avoidable had Governments planned, resourced and invested for long enough. The valid point was made that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael in some shape or form have been in government for a long, long time, even before all these children were born.

I cannot support the Government amendment. I am disappointed that the Minister tabled amendment in the first place but the first reason I will not support it is that where the Sinn Féin motion includes specific language relating to a commitment for September 2025 while the Government has a commitment to deliver in a timely manner. That is not strong enough for me and we will not support that amendment.

With regard to the commitment from the Government outlined by the Minister and Minister of State here, from Sinn Féin’s perspective and, I think, across the Opposition benches, if the objective is to deliver appropriate school places for every child for September, we will work with the Government every step of the way. We could talk a long time about the barriers that have been identified but the Government will find a willing partner on this side of the House to deliver on that objective. We will persevere and persist on this because these children deserve nothing less.

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