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Dáil
‹ Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation

Scoil Bhríde expansion

Summary

Deputy Ó Murchú raised the rapid growth of Scoil Bhríde in Sheelagh and the need to resolve its expansion. The Taoiseach said it was a specific school project within a major expansion programme and said he would alert the Minister.

I agree with Deputy Byrne when he spoke about firefighters and the need to be able to work beyond 62. A firefighter, a retained station officer, spoke to me recently and I think he has written to the Taoiseach. He is about to turn 62, so that is an issue we need to resolve.

I want to bring up the issue of Scoil Bhríde in Sheelagh. I was in it in the last while. It has been engaging with the Department for a number of years. In 2022, there was a new teacher. In 2024, an autism class and another teacher were added. Then the school got another one because its numbers have risen. It is on the Border and the school has done huge work in getting more children from the wider area in. You are talking about a staff of three becoming a staff of ten in 2025, but you are also talking about classrooms, one where there are two teachers and 40-odd students along with a whole pile of other issues. We really need to see when we will get additional accommodation, be it even modular.

Comment on this

It is a specific school project. Obviously, it has grown very fast from what the Deputy is saying. Has it gone from a three-teacher school to a ten-teacher school?

Comment on this

Ten staff, including SNAs.

Comment on this

There are special classes and so on. We have a very large school expansion programme on the way. Huge funding has been allocated to it. I will alert the Minister to the fact the Deputy raised it here this morning.

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