Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank our guests for attending. I wish Deputy Foley the very best in her new role as Minister for Education and Skills and I pay tribute to the former Minister, Deputy McHugh, who was very fair when in his position.

I am involved with the board of management at a school in Schull in west Cork. I can see at first hand the problems that schools will have with the return of students, which has left many unanswered questions to date. I will ask a number of questions and our guests might decide among themselves who will answer them. Is there any indication from the Department of Education as to whether schools will get a larger budget to cover cleaning and personal protective equipment, PPE, costs?

Many schools that applied for the emergency works funding were denied it. Is there any indication that funds for such schemes are drying up due to the Covid-19 crisis? Many schools in west Cork applied, including Dreeny national school, which is located between Skibbereen and Drimoleague, and Scoil Mhuire na nGrást in Belgooly, and need funding immediately to carry out safety procedures. Is the same funding available now that was available prior to Covid-19?

On transport, is there a plan or clarification on whether additional school buses will be provided? What will be the seating plans on the buses? Will the children have to wear face masks? In general, is any type of a plan in place or is it still being figured out? The closed school rule for transport was introduced some years ago when a number of small schools in various parts of the country were closed and amalgamated with larger schools in parishes. The pupils of the small schools were guaranteed transport to the new, larger school, which was known as the closed school rule. Unfortunately, under the Government before the last, the closed school rule for transport was discontinued, which has caused significant problems in many rural parts of the country. It caused major upset for parents prior to Covid and has now added further stress in my constituency, in places from Kilbrittain to Glengarriff. Have the unions lobbied for the closed school rule to be reintroduced?