I am making the point that a variety of mechanisms could be used to address this issue. My Department is looking at this issue, and when that has been finalised, I will respond directly to Deputy McNamara.

Those forms were sent as a matter of best practice. The Deputy will be aware this is happening in different settings where the workers, or those who engage in a particular area of work, such as in this instance school students and staff, are obliged to fill in forms to state they do not have Covid-19 symptoms. The Deputy will also appreciate that not only the Department but the deputy chief medical officer and others have articulated the importance of students, teachers, parents and guardians of children providing …

In that respect, they have been asked to fill in the forms to attest that they do not have Covid-19 symptoms and that they have abided by all public health advice.

I thank the House for the opportunity to address the issue of reopening in-school teaching and learning for students with special educational needs and to update Members on the efforts that have been made in this regard since I spoke here last week.  When I was in the House last Thursday, I outlined the following points, which are worth repeating: School, and education more broadly, is a hugely powerful and positive force in our young people's lives and it is vital that this is preserved for our students in these m…

I thank the Deputy. On the reference to there not being plans A, B, C and D, I can tell the Deputy that there have been since June------

Absolutely, and if the Deputy allows me, I will answer the questions.

The Deputy has made an assertion that there was no planning here. There have been considerable plans put in place, all of them backed to follow public health advice. As public health advice dictates, we follow the plans as available. There has been no ambiguity there. Plan A, on foot of public health advice, was to reopen our schools, which we did successfully from September to December. Plan B, if that was not possible, involved considerable planning in terms of guidance and adjudication for schools in terms of ho…

I am not. This is very important because the Deputy, his leader and many others have made assertions about this and it is important to correct the record. In the instance of PPE, in the first term there was considerable additional funding made available for start-up costs which included putting in place hand sanitiser, equipment in places, additional bins and all of that.

If the Deputy allows me to finish. Equally so, the first term was 25% longer than the present term so there is no cut. I refute that absolutely 100%. The provision of PPE is as it should be and we have always said if there was more required, it would be given. On serial testing, on foot of public health recommendations, if that is required, we will follow public health advice. On vaccination, we made representations that our school communities would be part of that. We have made further representation and there is …

Of course. Priority is being given to children with additional needs.

A Cheann Comhairle-----

Could I have ten seconds to reply?

The Deputy very successfully talked down the clock so that I would not-----

-----be in a position to reply.

I asked for ten seconds to reply. I do not have sufficient time to reply in full because the clock will not allow me, but I want to make one point. The Deputy quite correctly asserted that I have encouraged people to pick sides and that I have picked sides. I make no apology. I picked the side and will continue to pick the side of children with additional needs. They are my first priority. The Deputy made an assertion and I have clarified the matter.

The Deputy should be under no illusions that at every stage and every step I, the Minister of State, Deputy Madigan, and the Department have taken a collaborative approach. When talks have not worked out, I have always committed to re-engagement at the earliest of opportunities and that is exactly what is happening at present. The issues raised by the Deputy are similar to those raised by his colleague, to which I already replied. There is no such thing as a 40% cut in PPE. It seems to be an issue that despite the …

I need the few seconds that I have. I note the Deputy expended her use on the clock quite well so as not to afford me the opportunity to answer in detail.

I have the floor now. The Deputy has made an assertion that I do not listen and that I have taken credit for the reopening of schools. If the Deputy was assiduously listening, and if the Deputy had this particular interest in schools and what was happening in schools from September right up to December, she would know that at every opportunity in this House and outside I have said quite clearly that the successful and sustained reopening of our schools was due largely, in huge measure, to the magnificent and genero…

On the questions that the Deputy has raised, I have answered every one of them that has been put by the Deputy's colleague. Indeed, it is interesting that the Deputy repeats the questions and does not seem to grasp the answers.

It is interesting that Deputy Bríd Smith referred to issues that she claimed have been ongoing for ten and 12 years. I remind the Deputy that this Government has been in place for six months. Within that six months with regard to the commitment and the determination to progress special education, we have a budget in excess of €2 billion. The largest and most significant budget ever for special education has been provided by this Government. That is a strong statement of intent on the importance that we place on spe…