Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am just saying what happened. I am not victim-blaming anybody. I was making a general point. I have been through this before with schools. We help schools when they engage with the Department. It has happened at different times that particular schools have had particular problems.

A letter was sent to the chair of the board on 14 March outlining the importance of the role of the FSSU, that is, the financial support services unit. That unit is there for a reason on behalf of the Department in supporting schools. The Department has engaged with the school since December and has asked the school to provide further information about its financial situation. The note I have says that is still awaited, but the Department may have received it since. We urge the school and the management to engage fully with the Department. It is currently engaging with the unit for this purpose. As the Deputy said, action was taken to deal with the school's immediate cash flow issues. Capitation grant funding due to be paid to the school was advanced. I have no doubt that the Department will be in a position to resolve those issues for the school in a sensible way. That is how to do things. That is all I am simply saying. I am not victim-blaming anybody.

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