Joe Flaherty (Fianna Fail)

I call on the Leader to draw to the attention of his party colleague the Minister for education details of a bizarre case that unfolded in County Leitrim recently regarding a venerable and much-respected former school principal, who is 66 years of age and who dedicated his life to education and to rural Ireland. He was in the vanguard of the delivery of special education. I was shocked to discover that he has been brought before the courts. It was alleged, and he admitted, that the enrolment figure for his school for the 2019-20 year had been inflated by three in order to make the total up to 201. This was done in order that he could keep a teacher in a rural area. He had adequate reasons as to why it happened. There were two children who indicated they were coming to the school. Their parents had given permission to include them on the roll, but they did not turn up. In addition, a child who was absent was marked down. The school board of management refunded the money relating to the teacher who was kept on the books for that year.It was extraordinary. Even Judge Éiteáin Cunningham acceded that the principal was acting out of goodwill to protect the children and staff at the school.

I cannot see the logic of the Department of education going to the expense of taking this case when there was clearly no reason to bring this man, who had an unblemished career, before the courts for something like that. I was shocked and horrified. While all of us in this House can sometimes be befuddled by and query some of the logic and decisions of some Departments, it was shocking to see that man dragged through the courts and his name appear online on the very front page of the Leitrim Observer. Where the story was placed, is something I would question. There must be accountability within the Department of education as to why the man in question was put through what I have outlined. I know him and I know how passionate he is about education. He was very much in the vanguard of special education at a time when we were struggling to get rural schools to embrace and take on the challenge of special education. He was a leader. He looked after two of the largest classes in a primary school in Leitrim. His reward for that work was to be dragged before the local District Court at a difficult time for him and his family. I found that quite extraordinary.

I would go as far as to say that nothing less than an apology from the Minister is what is needed in respect of this extraordinary situation. I want to know if she knew this case was being taken and if she authorised it. It seems bizarre that any Department would, as happened in this case, go on such a folly and seek to blemish an impeccable career. Will the Leader take this matter up with the Minister for education? I would like the Minister to come before the House as soon as possible to discuss other education matters. If she does come here, I will raise this specific matter with her because what happened is one of the most troubling things I have seen. People who dedicate their lives to public service cannot be treated like this.