Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State might bring to the attention of the Minister for Education and Skills and the appeal board that the figures indicated in the reply on pupil numbers are not those I was given by the principal this morning. I hope the Department has the correct figures. I will check the position immediately with the school.

My child started school this year in the junior infants? class in another school in County Meath. I can only imagine the disruption that would be caused to her by having to move classes and perhaps having to go into a class with 37 pupils because of what might be an arbitrary decision by the Department. I urge the Department and the appeal board to take into account the factors I have raised on the school and the special circumstances that apply. The school has lost four teachers and is in a developing area. What is proposed is not fair on the small children involved.