I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this topic for debate and the Minister of State for being here. There should be no need to bring this issue, which is the annual crisis of school place shortages in Dunshaughlin, County Meath, before this House. I thank the parents who contacted me and my colleague Councillor Fionnan Blake. I also thank Councillor Blake for his hard work on this issue. The parents' stories are the reason I am standing here. They are the reason this debate is happening. No parent should have to spend their evenings worrying about whether their child will have a place to go to school in their local community. They should not have to talk to local and national media or have their case pleaded on the floor of the Dáil for what a basic, fundamental and constitutional right.
The families of Dunshaughlin have run out of patience with last-minute crisis management. They need action and they need it now. This time last year we were in a similar position with scores of children on waiting lists and without an offer of a school place. This year is worse and significantly worse.
Last year, additional capacity was provided after much consternation, effort and energy and it was very welcome for the families it helped, but here we are again, and it is even worse. If no additional capacity is added beyond what is currently planned, we will have children without school places come September. One local school, St. Seachnall's National School, has already been unable to accommodate more than 80 children.
Dunshaughlin has experienced significant population growth, which is to be welcomed. It is a vibrant and thriving community, but the Department of Education and Youth has failed year after year to plan for this growth. People are astounded by this. We are sending our kids to school to learn their ABCs, but surely this is the ABC of government, management, planning and of delivery. These children did not fall from the sky. Houses were built and the community is expanding. The need for local services is apparent. They are literally in county development plans, which have set it forward, but the services are not there. Successive Ministers have been aware of the demographic pressures, but, again, we are facing a situation where families are in limbo, waiting to see if their child has a school place to go to in a few short months. It is not good enough. Every child has a constitutional to a primary school place. It is not a privilege. It is a right and it is a fundamental duty of the Minister to ensure that right is upheld.
I am asking for three specific things. The first is a commitment from the Minister of State for extra mainstream school places for Dunshaughlin for this coming September. I do not want a promise to look into it or a letter saying that it is something that will be reviewed or considered. We need a guarantee. These children are there and the demand is apparent. We need additional school places for the baby infant intake in Dunshaughlin.
Second, the Minister and the Department must engage directly and immediately with local schools. These schools and their principals are doing tremendous work, but the Department needs to work with them urgently to arrange the delivery of extra places whether that means additional teachers, resources or temporary accommodation.
Third, we cannot keep doing this every year. We need a plan for mainstream and special class provision for this growing community. We cannot be doing this every year.
