Mulhuddart national school is a small four teacher school. It is the oldest school in the area having been established by the Blanchardstown Patriotic Society in 1822 — an organisation which concerned itself with the education of children in the villages of west Dublin. The school is housed in a building erected in 1926. For the past number of years parents and teachers have made every effort to have a remedial teacher appointed to their school. There are 111 pupils on the roll and approximately 15 of them are in chronic need of remedial help.
Originally the school made a joint application with Scoil Oilibhéir, the all-Irish school in Coolmine, to share a remedial teacher if one should be appointed. The school was unsuccessful. For a number of years they also made joint applications with Ladyswell national school to share a remedial teacher. However, while a remedial teacher and several above quota teachers were appointed for Ladyswell school, Mulhuddart school was left without the services of a remedial teacher.
Last year another joint application was made, on this occasion with Kilbride national school. A remedial teacher was appointed last September for Kilbride school but no provision was made for Mulhuddart school. Mulhuddart is now the only national school in west Dublin without the services of a remedial teacher. The parents and teachers feel strongly that the children, who are as in need of remedial teachers as any other children, are being discriminated against. The parents have paid for the services of a remedial teacher after school hours for the past number of years and they are extremely concerned. They have decided to launch a public campaign to inform the local politicians of the situation. They have asked me on their behalf to bring this matter to the Minister's attention in the hope that a shared remedial teacher will be sanctioned for Mulhuddart national school.