Ar an gcéad dul síos, gabhaim buíochas don Teachta Ó Cuív as an méid atá ráite aige. I thank Deputy Ó Cuív for his considerate, insightful and, indeed, measured contribution. I believe the Deputy is 100% correct, and it has been articulated by Deputy O'Donnell, that there is only one agenda here and it is to find a way forward for all of our children, in this instance children with additional needs in particular. I absolutely believe there is a shared objective, and I say this with the greatest of respect to all of…

I thank the Deputy. I acknowledge her very positive and constructive contribution this evening and, indeed, her positive and ongoing positive contribution to every debate on the education sector. I would say, given that the Deputy referred to the concern among teachers, SNAs and others working in the school community, that I know those concerns. I engage on an ongoing basis with the representatives of all of the people of whom we speak, but I also engage on a personal level with teachers, SNAs, school secretaries a…

I thank the Deputy. To clarify the question of announcements first and discussions next, all discussions have taken place first and announcements have then been made, and they have been done collaboratively. When the Department has made announcements, similar announcements have been made by those who have been at the table also. In terms of the results from the November 2020 exams, that will be in early February. Reference was made to the leaving certificate. The process is moving forward and there is another meeti…

I thank the Deputy and appreciate his positive contribution. He referred to all who work in the school community and he particularly referred to boards of management, which I also acknowledge personally. These are individuals who volunteer and generously give so much of their time. I acknowledge their contribution as well and that of the entire community, which the Deputy also referred to. The Deputy referred to those who work in school transport. Again, I have always appreciated that it is very much the collective…

I thank the Ceann Comhairle and appreciate his indulgence. I again note that I was not given the facility to reply by the Deputies. To Deputy Pringle, I say that after five months of school closures, from March to August, there was a view, shared by the Deputy and others, that it would not be possible to reopen the schools. In my Ministry, we delivered the reopening of schools after five months of closure. It was delivered because of considerable resources - €639 million - but also, largely and more importantly, an…

There is no question around the intent of this Government to deliver for children with additional needs. We do that in a co-operative fashion with everyone in the education sector.

I am pleased to be before the House to set out the work that myself and the Minister of State, Deputy Madigan, as well as our officials and indeed, the partners in education, have been engaged in over recent weeks to ensure the continued provision of education to our students throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. While schools are providing remote education at present, the resumption of in-person teaching and learning is a priority for Government and intensive engagement continues with the partners in education to do s…

I thank the Deputy for the issues she highlighted. I must differ with her, however, regarding many of the points she made. The Deputy referred to a lack of planning. That is absolutely and utterly untrue. I hope the Deputy is aware of the efforts being made by schools to ensure children are catered for in these current circumstances with remote and online learning. They are in a position to do that because of the extensive planning and engagement which has taken place to provide clarity and guidelines to schools co…

I am responding to both. I will take the opportunity to respond to Deputy Ó Ríordáin first. I acknowledge the engagement that has been forthcoming from the Opposition spokespersons on education, which I appreciate. On the specific point of consultation with the unions, I want to be very clear that I most definitely engaged with the unions on Monday of last week. I engaged with all the partners in education on their concerns and issues around the reopening of schools. Engagement with all the partners in education ha…

-----and that is ongoing.

I will make a brief comment and the Minister of State will then contribute. On the case outlined by the Deputy, it is for all those reasons and more that specific provision for the cohort of children with additional needs and profound and severe difficulties is being made so they are facilitated in terms of lockdown. I am personally aware of the difficulties and complexities faced by these children and, in addition, by their families and guardians during the last lockdown. It is for all those reasons and more that …

A specific issue has been raised by Deputy Gannon in terms of numbers prior to December. Deputy Gannon has said that I consistently articulate that school is a safe environment. I articulate it because that is the evidence, wisdom and expertise of public health. It is those in public health who are confirming this to us. Deputy Gannon will be aware that Dr. Holohan references low transmission within our schools and he refers to schools being safe places. It is supported by Professor Philip Nolan, also a member of t…

I will finish this point. As public health professionals they have consistently confirmed that, in their expert opinion and experience, schools are safe environments. I defer to their expert treatment of the matter.

The Deputy asked about public health advice and the new variant. At all stages, public health advice officials offer their expertise. They do it mindful of all that is happening from an epidemiological point of view in terms of what we would call the virus as we knew it and the new variants, whether the UK variant or the South African variant. All of that is taken into consideration when they issue their advice. Mindful of that, on Monday, 4 January, prior to my meeting with all the partners in education, the publi…

Regarding the Deputy's remarks on lack of engagement, which I utterly reject out of hand, it has been the hallmark of my Ministry that substantial engagement right from the very beginning has been attested by the reopening of our schools and ongoing engagement with all the partners in education. This includes parents, teachers, students and managerial bodies right across the weave of education. I therefore reject out of hand the Deputy's remarks in that regard. Regarding school transport specifically, it is very cl…

It is very disappointing that Deputy Carthy-----

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle. In the first instance, I will refer specifically to points that were raised by Deputy Boyd Barrett. I assure the Deputy, and I have articulated this previously, that every measure we have introduced into our schools is backed by public health advice and that we react immediately, taking account of the public health advice, in respect of any measures that schools ask us to change or to be flexible on. I ask the Deputy to be under no illusions in this regard. On the specific points …

I thank the Deputy and acknowledge his engagement with me on an ongoing basis in respect of education issues. As already stated, I understand the anxiety and difficulties of our leaving certificate students in particular. I acknowledge that their representatives are very much part of our advisory committee that is preparing for our leaving certificate, which has met on two occasions and which will meet again in the coming days. The committee is looking at all of the different measures that need to be put in place f…

Regarding specific provision for children who are in danger of disadvantage, there is a programme in place and all the guidelines and provisions have been worked out with the partners in education. For example, schools have identified individuals who make direct contact with students. There is the Check and Connect programme and a variety of other programmes. The home school community liaison officers are working in these areas. The school meals programme continues for children. For children who might not have the …

I agree with the Deputy that the provision of special education remains an absolute priority to ensure that children with additional needs are catered for in the midst of a lockdown and otherwise. It was for all of those reasons the Government and I made the decision that in the midst of the current lockdown children with additional needs would be catered for, but this proved difficult for the partners in education. We are in a better position now and I am happy with the announcement that has been made today. In te…