I again thank the Deputies for their contributions. I will note them. In my previous response, I took the opportunity to outline the progress and consultation that has taken place to this point. It has been a process of progress and consultation, which is important. As I have already outlined, it is a consultation with the widest possible representation of stakeholders through the advisory body. That includes students and they have been very much part of the process, which continues tomorrow. That is right and prop…

I am pleased to be here today with the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, and the Minister of State, Deputy Madigan, to provide the House with an update on the important measures that we have taken to address the continuing impact of Covid-19 on the educational experience of our children and young people. The operation of schools has been and continues to be a key priority for the Government. I do not underestimate for a moment the significant challenge that the pandemic has presented …

I am very pleased to be here to provide Senators with an update on the important measures that have been taken to address the continuing impact of Covid-19 on the educational experience of our children and young people. The continued safe and sustainable operation of schools has been a key priority for the Government and broader society. This simply could not have been achieved without the sheer hard work, creativity and leadership of every single school across the country. I know that it has been both challenging …

They will be remunerated.

I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach. I appreciate the opportunity to be here, to listen and to hear the issues and concerns that the Senators have raised. I am a believer in the collective wisdom and I appreciate the value of that in the education sector. It has served us well, and it is for that reason that we have consistently operated within the Department via the partnership in education. Reference was made to who are the partners in education. These are parents, teachers, managerial bodies and, as Senator Malcolm …

In terms of the issues regarding the five- to 12-year-olds, we have been told with regard to Covid and public health that there is a particular spike, especially among nine- to 12-year-olds, and that additional measures are required. The Senator specifically referred to contact tracing and the rule for contact tracing. That is a public health and HSE measure. The Department of Education is consistently engaged with public health. As I said in my opening remarks, we have been, and continue to be, guided by public he…

Other questions were asked by Senators but the key questions were, most likely, those relating to ventilation and antigen testing. As regards mask-wearing, it is a temporary measure, as I have outlined. It is a public health measure. The greatest reassurance our school communities have received is that we have consistently followed public health advice. We stated very clearly in the guidelines that there is flexibility there. I know schools well. I know school principals and school leadership and I know that they k…

I thank the Deputy for giving me the opportunity to outline to the House, as he has requested, the current position regarding Covid-19 infection prevention and control measures in schools. Ensuring that schools can continue to operate through Covid-19 has been a key priority for the Government. The Department always has been guided by our public health authorities, such as NPHET, the Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Tony Holohan, and the Health Protection Surveillance Centre, HPSC, regarding the appropriate Covid-19 infe…

I thank the Deputy again for giving me the opportunity to outline to the House these measures. I reiterate that if there are outbreaks of concern in educational facilities, public health teams continue to provide support to schools where required and the measures we have implemented in schools are on the back of expert public health advice. The on-the-ground experience of public health doctors has been and remains that schools are relatively low-risk environments in terms of transmission and have not been a driver …

The Government is committed to supporting schools and keeping them open for all children as we continue to live with Covid-19. The aim of all the Covid-19 infection prevention and control measures in place in schools is to support schools to operate safely and prevent the introduction and onward transmission of Covid-19 among the school community. I will speak specifically on the measures confirmed by the Government yesterday and the guidelines issued to schools. It is important because I have heard from the Deputy…

We did that yesterday and are very clear in the guidelines. I know schools and have spent the vast majority of my working life in schools.

I have the floor. I am aware that schools take a flexible approach. We have advised they take such an approach over the coming days.

Grandstanding on a matter of public health serves no good purpose.

In relation to there being an opportunity for schools to take a flexible approach, as they always do, they have that flexibility in the coming days. The vast majority of parents are aware, as I am, that many children wore masks on the word of the CMO last week. We are taking an approach advised by public health. The measure is regarded as an additional tool for the benefit of our schools and we are implementing it. We ask parents to co-operate as they have done magnificently up to this point. I have no doubt they w…

I acknowledge the Deputy's ongoing commitment to this issue in his constituency. It is an issue on which Deputy Aindrias Moynihan has also engaged with me. I thank Deputy Creed for raising the matter, as it allows me to provide an update to the House on the current position on the provision of interim accommodation for Le Chéile Secondary School in Ballincollig, County Cork. In September 2021, the school opened in contingency interim accommodation in the former Cork Film Centre in Ballincollig. The school will oper…

This is being given a high priority by my Department. I appreciate the Deputy's ongoing interest in this issue, which he has raised with me a number of times, as has Deputy Aindrias Moynihan. It is a matter of high priority within Deputy Creed's constituency. He can see from the level of engagement that the Department has had with the local authority on interim sites for additional accommodation and permanent site availability that we have at every opportunity taken the broadest look at available sites and analysed…

If I could conclude. The Deputy is aware that pre-planning is a significant and important element of the planning process. If we had not engaged in pre-planning, the Deputy would be quite critical. It points to the fact that the Department has utilised every opportunity available to it to ensure that interim and permanent sites would be made available for this school. I assure him that we will continue to give this every priority, both for the benefit of the student community and the wider community.

I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after “That” and substitute the following: “Dáil Éireann resolves that the Education (Health, Relationships and Sex Education) Bill 2021 be deemed to be read a second time this day nine months.” I welcome the opportunity to appear before the House to participate in this important debate. I thank Deputy Gannon for raising this crucial issue, which I agree must be addressed. The Government is not opposing this Private Member's Bill, although I have proposed an amendment to …

I assume so.

Ensuring schools can operate safely has been a key priority for me as Minister for Education. My Department has always been guided by public health advice on appropriate Covid-19 infection prevention and control measures in our schools. These measures protect students, their parents and school staff and are effective. Public health advice is that the two most important actions to prevent the introduction and spread of Covid-19 and other respiratory viruses are ensuring no one with new onset symptoms attends school …