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Dáil
‹ Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation

Tyrrelstown school closure response

Summary

Deputy Burton pressed for an emergency task force, helpline and better support for families, crèches and the community centre affected by school closures in Tyrrelstown. The Tánaiste said a communications unit had been established in the Education Department and that communication would improve.

I spent much of yesterday in Tyrrelstown, where 1,200 children have had their schools arbitrarily closed, along with the community centre. Will the Government set up an emergency task force with the participation of the Office of Public Works to find out when the buildings can be re-opened? Will the Government set up a helpline for parents? It is impossible for parents to get answers from the Department of Education and Skills. Will the Government set up a helpline for crèches that operate childcare facilities out of these schools and the community centre for afterschool and preschool care because workers were told yesterday that there was no work for them? Could the Government set up a helpline for the community organisations that now have no community centre to which they go for their activities?

Comment on this
Simon Coveney The Tánaiste Fine Gael

A communications unit has been set up in the Department of Education and Skills specifically yesterday to deal with all of the issues.

Comment on this

There are no answers from it.

Comment on this
Simon Coveney The Tánaiste Fine Gael

I will pass on the Deputy's comments with regard to that. The Deputy is asking me to set up a communications unit when one has already been set up.

Comment on this

No, an emergency task force.

Comment on this

Allow the Tánaiste to respond.

Comment on this
Simon Coveney The Tánaiste Fine Gael

With respect, the Deputy's initial focus was on communications, which is the most important focus in order that people know what is happening and can understand timelines around inspections and so on. As a specific unit on communications was set up only yesterday to do that, I expect the Deputy will see a dramatic improvement in communications as a result of that.

Comment on this