Matt Shanahan (Waterford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I want to suggest to the schools that the issue of procurement should be handled by the schools themselves. There are many local companies adjacent to all of our schools that would be more than happy to provide contracts. I am aware of public sector procurement issues such as this in some of our residential settings where the costs being paid are far in excess of what can be dealt for locally. The procurement issue for schools would be far easier if goods were sourced locally.

On the issue of school transport, I know the Department is engaged to a degree with Bus Éireann, which handles most of the public service obligation contracts for school transport, aside from the special needs schools. Are any of the organisations represented today engaging with any of the transport companies to understand how they will meet their social distancing requirements and how they will continue to provide a service to schools?