Thank you, a Chathaoirligh, for giving me the opportunity of raising this important matter. I would also like to thank the Minister for coming to the House to listen to my contribution and hopefully to respond positively.
In the parish of Cloyne in Cork there are 18 slow-learning school children. To assist them achieve a good standard of primary education the manager and parents employed a resource teacher in October 1993 at their own expense. The children are happy and are doing well, which proves beyond doubt that they have benefited from the services provided by that teacher. The issue, therefore, is the application by the manager and parents to be allowed to retain the teacher by getting the sanction of the Minister, which I understand has not been forthcoming up to now.
It is difficult to understand this in view of the fact that it is so vitally important for the children's education. We are well aware that illiteracy is increasing in all areas at an alarming rate. This would not be the case if the problem was addressed at primary level, but we will stick to my current point. The problem is compounded, however, when the manager of the school states that those children will have to go elsewhere if the services of the teacher are no longer provided. If that happens, the children will leave primary school and in later years they will be looking for the provision of literacy classes. I understand that if the resource teacher is not provided, the parents will have to travel, or provide transport, to Cork city. Some parents from that region have already had to do that and it is not fair. I appeal to the Minister to establish a dialogue with the chairman of the board of management so that a satisfactory solution to this problem will ensue. I thank you for giving me the opportunity of raising this matter.
