Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank our guests for their participation, submissions and research. Our guests represent parents groups and not students and I wonder what consideration was taken of input from children in forming views. I am aware that my view of what my child thinks might be very different from what my child actually thinks.

The committee could consider inviting representatives of student groups before it because that might be beneficial. I do not know if there is such a plan but I make that suggestion.

If the medical advice and transmission rate supports such a proposal, would our guests be comfortable if little or no social distancing requirements are in place for primary and secondary schools at the beginning of the school year? What are the views of parents on that issue?

My next question is to Ms Fanning or the representatives of secondary schools. There is a cohort of forgotten fifth years of whom we are going to have to take consideration. Those students have lost out on a chunk of the leaving certificate curriculum and there must be a concentration on that group as they go into sixth year.

Do the witnesses have a view on that or has it been considered by parents of those fifth years?