Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Miss McGregor who made a very interesting point. We believe that there is a great amount of material going out on social media but it may not be delivered in a way that is reaching people where they are at. Perhaps it is not the right tone, message or connection that is made. It is very important to get that feedback.

In returning to an earlier point we have discussed with the Department of Education and Skills, the parents counciI and the unions the issue of going back to school in September. No matter what one’s stage is, there is an uncertainty there for young people, as much for the period spent out of school as for lingering anxiety about Covid-19 or the risk of transmission, etc. What interaction has there been with the Department of Education and Skills or others about the provision to meet the psycho-social needs of children going back to school, anticipating increased anxiety, regressed behaviour, or any other symptoms? What has been the engagement for the provision of support for teachers who are often trying to meet the psychosocial needs in the classroom setting? I asked about the colleges of education providing, for example, web seminars, play therapy and additional types of therapy to help support teachers to support children as they come back. Is there additional psycho-educational information for parents to enable them to support their children through any disrupted period as they go back to school?