Eugene Murphy (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will do my best, although I will not be able to get in everything I want. Comhghairdeas to the Minister and I wish her well. As has already been said, she had a baptism of fire. There was some veiled criticism in the background but fair play to the Minister because she kept her head down and did not come out with half a statement. It is a credit to her and her team the way that she addressed this matter today and yesterday. I was very impressed listening to her on the way from Roscommon this morning when she was interviewed on "Morning Ireland".

This is about welfare and well-being and getting children back to education. Without doubt and like most in the Chamber, the question I have been asked over and again is whether we can get children back to school. There is no doubt about what the Irish people want; they want a return to school but they want this done safely and properly. A number of teachers rang me to say they wanted to get back, play their part and do this right.

This is a considerable package and the well-being element is quite important. It includes psychologists, guidance counsellors and special needs personnel. It looks like the Minister has covered every area but of course there will be challenges. Not everything will go right. Who said we have ever lived in a society where we were free of problems? Some people have said we should fix classroom sizes now but if we did so, the schools would still not be open by next May, never mind the end of this year. It is an important matter but this is the way to proceed.

I hope this will lead to the opening of schools. Work will be required and the minor works scheme is very important in this regard. As Senator Lisa Chambers mentioned, there may be some challenges with the financing of works in smaller schools, and it may not be possible to do the required work with the amount of money they receive. I say "well done" to the Minister. She has my support and will continue to have it.