I am deeply conscious of the ongoing work in our schools throughout the pandemic. The Deputy will appreciate that the situation is always in flux for both the education sector and society as we deal with the pandemic. Notwithstanding that, considerable planning has gone into provision not just for this year but for the new school year as it begins in September. Schools have already been informed that all provisions in terms of PPE, hand sanitiser and other mitigation measures required for schools in September will …

The policy of my Department is to support the use of school premises and facilities for community and recreational purposes where possible. In October 2017, following consultation with the relevant school authorities, my Department published guidelines on the use of school buildings outside of school hours. These guidelines can be viewed on my Department's website. The purpose of these guidelines is to provide guidance for schools relating to the use of school buildings outside of school hours and for those schools…

I thank the Deputy. I appreciate the sincerity with which he has put forward his views. I want to confirm that the Department has no issue with schools making arrangements with local communities, provided that does not in any way impinge upon the needs of the school at any given time. Therefore, it is important that negotiations around that are at a local level and, as I have outlined, with the property owners, trustees or whatever the case might be. To be fair, and to the credit of schools across the country, an e…

I thank the Deputy. I acknowledge that we are not too far apart in what he is saying. I want to acknowledge that the Department has no issue. As we previously outlined, it has made guidelines available as to how best practice would work in terms of ensuring how this would operate. As I said, I want to be clear because I do not want the impression to go abroad that this is not happening with school communities. I am aware of an enormous number of schools which are making their facilities available for a variety of d…

Under the memorandum of understanding in place between local authorities and my Department in respect of the acquisition of suitable sites for schools, officials in my Department continue to liaise with officials in Cork City Council in regard to a site for the school, Le Chéile, in respect of which the Deputy is inquiring. A number of site options have been identified and assessed by my Department in conjunction with officials from Cork City Council. Unfortunately, in the case of most of these options the land cou…

As I said, I appreciate the bona fides of the Deputy's inquiry. It has been an ongoing priority on his agenda with the Department of Education. I want to be very clear that the Department is doing all it can to engage with all sides to ensure we can expedite the provision of an appropriate site for all concerned as quickly as possible. In regard to Cork City Council, I want to acknowledge that there has been excellent and ongoing engagement between the Department of Education and the local authority and I want to a…

It was remiss of me not to say that I appreciate the importance of seeing progress being made here as quickly as possible from the point of view of school communities, staff, parents, boards of management and local communities. I know I am repeating myself at this stage but I assure the Deputy that every effort is being made. There have been ongoing and protracted engagements in an attempt to advance this as quickly as possible. It is a positive that we can say that two potential sites have been identified and that…

Again I wish to acknowledge that this is something of particular interest to the Deputy on which he has engaged with me on an ongoing basis and I wish to express my appreciation for that. The Deputy will be aware that the Education (Student and Parent Charter) Bill 2019 completed all Stages of the Seanad in 2019. I confirm that the Department is currently awaiting an Order for Second Stage in the Dáil, at which time the Bill will be read a Second Time and continue through the legislative process. I would like to se…

I appreciate the Deputy's comments and I am in entire agreement with him. I strongly believe in the partnership approach in education. I also want to acknowledge that we see that work very effectively in many schools. As the Deputy has referenced the pandemic, we have seen extraordinary examples of that working so well and significantly to facilitate schools and school communities to journey through the pandemic. From my experience I know that a school community is strongest when it works together and when all voic…

I can confirm that we are working on a support fund and support resource for schools in acknowledgement of the position in which we find ourselves in the pandemic and the loss on occasion of in-person teaching and learning. From the point of view of school staff I want to acknowledge that this was notwithstanding the remote learning that was provided by schools. I am conscious of the importance of in-person teaching and learning. I am also conscious of the need to make provision for supports for the new school year…

As Deputy Smyth may be aware, an investment programme of €210 million has been delivered under the current Digital Strategy for Schools 2015-2020. As the Deputy's previous question demonstrated, there undoubtedly is a strong role for digital devices and the use of digital technology in teaching and learning within our education system, and we must support its continued development. Under the digital strategy, ICT funding is issued directly to schools as they are best placed to identify and meet the requirements of …

I agree with the Deputy that we have learned an enormous amount from the pandemic as we have gone through it. We have also learned of the flexibility, adaptability and resilience of schools in meeting challenges as they are presented. I want to be very clear that with the resourcing of schools, more than €100 million has been made available to them during the pandemic, specifically with regard to digital technology, and this afforded schools the opportunity to purchase equipment and loan equipment to students where…

I confirm that the consultation process was wide and provided online and questionnaire resources etc. There was an opportunity for people to engage and much of that is being analysed now. There have been and will continue to be bilateral engagements with a variety of different stakeholders and partners in education on the formulation of a new policy. It is my intention that we will be in a position to launch this new policy within the next number of months. I am under no illusions about the significant and benefici…

As I have said, the Department and I, as Minister for Education, are acutely aware of the disruption caused to all students as a result of school closures arising from the Covid-19 pandemic. From 11 January 2021, all students engaged in a programme of remote learning with their schools and I express appreciation to schools for managing that. Students who have just completed fifth year and who are due to take leaving certificate examinations in 2022 have experienced a degree of disruption to their learning. In these…

It is important to acknowledge there has been a considerable amount of forward planning by the Department in preparing for the 2022 leaving certificate. I acknowledge the contribution of the advisory group, as I outlined, which is representative of students, parents, teachers, managerial bodies and the wider spectrum of education partners. It is positive that we can now indicate to students what will be before them as they return to school at the end of August and early September. Advance notice is important not ju…

To be fair to all who have engaged in this process, we were in a position yesterday, at the end of June, to make an announcement regarding forward planning for the class of 2022, which includes accommodation in terms of the exam. It is proportionate. It is the accommodation that was made available originally in August, with a further modification in December in terms of the assessment of the exam. We have gone a step further in June by announcing to students in advance of June 2022 that we are in a position and it …

I am pleased to have the opportunity to address the House on this vitally important Bill. At the heart of it is the underlying principle that we must strive for an education that enriches, values and nurtures every child and young person within it. The Government will be supporting this Bill. I am acutely aware of the power of education and specifically the power that it has in not only shaping the lives of students, but in shaping the outlooks of future generations. We must always strive for a better education sys…

I thank the Deputies for their contributions. I also thank the Senators who previously contributed to the development of the Bill. I particularly acknowledge the personal engagement and personal witness of many of the contributors this evening. These have added greatly to the debate. It is such a positive step that we can garner unanimity within the Chamber on this issue. I am conscious that this Bill will not put everything to right. No Bill has that capacity but it is important that the Bill speak to opportunity …

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. Before I address it specifically, I wish to provide the House an outline of the extent of the school transport service. School transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In the current school year, more than 114,000 children, including more than 14,700 children with special educational needs, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of more than €224.7 million in 202…

I acknowledge the points the Deputy raises. The reason behind many of them gives rise to the necessity for a review. I come from a rural constituency and am more than familiar with the issues that have pertained to the school transport system. I deal with it with my constituents. It has been an ongoing issue for many years and it predates many of us being elected to the House. It is for this reason I was more than keen that the review of the school transport service as we know it would be given every opportunity, n…