David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Catherine Byrne, for her understanding.

On 30 September 2018 the school had an enrolment of 61. The number required was 67. For six students, they will close it all down. If one looks at the circumstances under which the pupils are living, many of them are in hotels or hostels where they cannot work properly.

When one has people from the coalface talking so passionately about it, it warrants quoting them. A paragraph from the district inspector's letter states:

As District Inspector for a number of schools in Dublin's north inner city, I am aware that the pupil profile for Scoil Caoimhín as described by the principal is similar to that of other schools in the north inner-city area. I am aware also that these schools have been successful in applying for and retaining additional teachers.

There is a discrepancy. Why are they getting it? It seems extraordinary that this school, in the heart of the most troubled area of the city, with drugs, with gun battles between people, with broken homes and with homelessness, should not get it when the other schools are getting it. The district inspector continues:

Therefore, in respect of fairness and parity of resource provision for similar schools and in respect of this school's particular needs, I would ask that very careful consideration should be given to this school's appeal and granting retention of the additional teacher. From the evidence provided by the principal, I am satisfied that there are strong arguments in favour of granting this post to the school on a temporary basis.

That is all we are asking for, namely, the granting of this post on a temporary basis in a situation in which the advantages of the children are being severely restricted by bureaucracy. Let us have an end to bureaucracy. Let us listen to what the inspector has to say. Let us listen to what the teachers have to say.

The Minister of State can have my imprimaturon the wonderful outstanding work that this school is doing in an area of devastation. As somebody who lives in the north inner-city area, I was proud of those children. They are wonderful.