Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for raising the issue of Stepping Stones school, Kilcloon. It is a school with which we are all very familiar. It is providing a great service and great opportunity to many young people and young adults going through the system. It represents all of County Meath and even beyond that. The issue has been raised with the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy McHugh, the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Deputy Regina Doherty, the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy McEntee, the Senator, Deputies Cassells and Thomas Byrne and others. We are all familiar with families who have great success stories and who have had a great journey through Stepping Stones school. When it first opened many years ago, it provided an opportunity for young children who might not have had the opportunity before that. It leads to positive outcomes. It is a positive school and we want to build on that.

I am responding on behalf of the Minister for Education and Skills, who is not available. He would like to have been here. I understand he visited the school.