Cavan National School emergency works
Deputy Smith raises Cavan No. 1 National School’s special class and emergency works needs, and the Taoiseach says the Department will work with the school on a solution.
I thank the Taoiseach for his reply. I previously mentioned to the Taoiseach the case of Cavan No. 1 National School in Cavan town, which is under the patronage of the Church of Ireland and which has done exceptional work in providing a top-quality education for children from different denominations and of different nationalities. Inclusion is at the very heart of all activities in the school, and the work of the principal, Sabrina Richardson, her staff colleagues and the board of management is to be strongly commended. The principal has outlined in great detail to the NCSE and the Department of education the urgent need the school has for a special class. This school has also been waiting far too long for approval from the Department for basic improvement works which are urgently needed. I ask the Taoiseach to use his good offices to request that Department give urgent consideration to issuing approval in respect of the school's applications for the establishment of a special class and for the emergency works.
The Taoiseach may recall in 2011 or 2012, he along, Michael Moynihan, myself and others campaigned very strongly against the proposal by the then Minister for education to change the pupil-teacher ratio, which would have-----
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-----impacted very severely on schools under the patronage of the smaller churches. We must ensure that policies do not impact severely on small schools.
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I thank the Deputy again for his question on the Church of Ireland school in Cavan town and the special class issue. I am conscious the Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, is in the Chamber as well. I take it he will have taken on board what the Deputy said.
On the emergency works application, there were some issues with the current proposal because it was well in excess of the minimum scope under the emergency works scheme. However, the Department of Education and Youth emergency works scheme team will work with the school to provide a solution that addresses the root issue the school is experiencing. There is hope for flexibility in that regard in order that the issue might be resolved for the school.
I will talk to the Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, and the Minister, Deputy Naughton, with a view to making sure that we can meet positively the request from the school in terms of a special class.