Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)

I will reiterate what Deputy Ó Muirí said. Belgrove infant girls' school, located beside the school I went to as a young boy, is being forced to merge two classes together. Hundreds of parents and children who are really stressed by this have approached me as I walk the streets of my local community . I do not understand how the fact that the school's current enrolment numbers for next year are above the threshold but the Department cannot give a temporary solution to this. The school will exceed the numbers. I understand that the rules are set that it has to be on 30 September, but can a temporary solution be given to this school?

I also reiterate what Deputy Ó Muirí said about the Howth primary school, Scoil Mhuire. The two second classes are being merged into a single class of 35 students. This is not a choice; it is the result of the regulation I just mentioned. The Department of education is only looking at the overall numbers within the school, but this can translate into having huge classes or splitting the class levels, which is not ideal for the learning of our up-and-coming generation. I urge the Minister of State and every Member to put as much pressure on this to get a solution. The parents would be really appreciative. The Minister of State would be too if his child were being forced into a school classroom that would affect his or her learning. I hope we can get a solution to this. I thank Deputy Ó Muirí and all the Deputies who have worked hard to try to get a solution to this.

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