Michael Kitt (Fianna Fail)

I thank Senator Ulick Burke for sharing his time and I thank the Minister of State. I support what Senator Burke has said about additional support staff. This school is housed in two buildings with a busy main road between and this is very difficult for both staff and students alike. It is important that the school be awarded disadvantaged status which would mean a more favourable student-teacher ratio, improved capitation grant and ready access to initiatives to combat disadvantage. I hope the school will be given the two resource teachers and the home-school liaison officer referred to by Senator Burke.

Many of the better-off parents tend to send their children out of the catchment area and this has far-reaching consequences for the school and for society as a whole in Ballinasloe. This is a question of discrimination against Travellers if they do not get the same rights and entitlements as those in the town of Tuam where schools are classed as disadvantaged and where the extra benefits are provided. It is important for the Minister of State to clarify that the children will have the same entitlements and benefits as those in other schools in County Galway and throughout the country as a whole. The extra resource teachers and home-school liaison officer should be given to this school. A speech and language class is also required. These are some of the points made very strongly by the school. We were all very pleased to be in the school recently when a new mural was unveiled in the playground by Deputy Kenny, the leader of the Fine Gael Party. I hope the good work of the teachers will be recognised by the Department and by the Minister.