Page 89 of the programme for Government states: "Education is the key to giving every child an equal opportunity in life." Falling populations on islands are leading to the closure of schools. This happened on Sherkin Island in recent years. Following discussions with parents at the time, a chaperone service was offered, whereby someone would travel on the ferry with the children to the school on the mainland in the morning and back in the evening. Two years on, the problem we have now on the islands is that one parent is having to stay at home from work to take his or her child to the mainland and to bring the child back in the evening again, leaving many families considering leaving islands to live on the mainland. Will the Tánaiste work with the Minister to have a chaperone put in place on Sherkin Island?

As the Deputy knows, I know Sherkin Island very well. I have spoken to many people about the decision on the previous school there and have worked with ferry operators on getting efficient travel to and from the island. I will happily work on this issue and we will see if we can make some progress on it.