Garret Ahearn (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his response, much of which related to the capital funding for developments. That is important in the long term. In regard to his response on school meals, he said the Department is going to liaise with the school with respect to its application. I thank him for that. The principal himself is willing to meet with either the Minister for Education or the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Humphreys. Essentially it is a communication issue between both Departments. If, as the Minister of State said, the school meals programme is budgeting for a further 900 primary schools for 2024, will the Minister of State prioritise this school in that group? There is a feeling within the community that this school has been left behind and is not receiving the same supports that all other schools in Tipperary town receive. Will the Minister of State and the Department rectify that in the next round, when 900 primary schools will receive this in 2024? Tipperary town has been a priority for his Department for the past number of years on a range of issues such as Social Protection and I ask that this would be supported.