Joe O'Toole (Independent)

I welcome the Minister and thank her for her attention on this issue. I agree with Senator Morrissey. We have discussed this issue on a few occasions over the past few weeks. The headmaster and his staff have put together an impressive report. I know Mr. John Lynch and his staff and it is a highly committed school. The work they have done in producing this report is something which would make the Minister proud as a teacher. They are purely motivated by what is best for those children. There is no other way they can do the job without this level of support. This is a problem of a new Ireland, of an Ireland where we will need immigrants in the future. We all understand this. We also know from looking at other countries that the children of these immigrants will drive our economy and pay our pensions in the future. That is from a purely selfish point of view. However, on the basis of our recognition of the importance of allowing a child to develop, that which this school is asking for should be seen in an open and unselfish manner.

We might wonder whether teachers might be daunted by the task of teaching these pupils with such language difficulties. Nonetheless, they have come back with a solution which shows that they want to do their best to give these children a chance and make them proud of the new Ireland. I appeal to the Minister to respond positively and to give some hope to these children, to the school's board of management and to the pupils. It really is important and I ask the Minister for her best and most positive response. I think it is her first Adjournment issue in the House and maybe it is time to make a grand gesture and do something which would make us proud of a fellow teacher. I thank Senator Morrissey for sharing his time with me.