Wed 20th May 2020: Covid-19 (Education & Skills): Statements

I took the opportunity to question the Minister for Education and Skills, Joe McHugh. I highlighted the chronic need for a new school building for Coláiste Íosagáin in Portarlington, St. Paul’s in Monasterevin and a new school for the Newbridge/Curragh/Athgarvan area.

I also highlighted the area of special education. I had the pleasure of visiting St. Anne’s Special Education school on the Curragh Plains during the campaign. Along with other schools all over the country, they face many challenges. These challenges include injuries staff sustain from some of the students, lack of clinical support to the schools, having to fundraise for very basic issues such as utilities and insurance, the pressure the schools are under to accept significantly more students than they are capable of taking and most importantly, the student to staff ratio.