Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Regarding schools that did not make the panel, the idea is that a panel will be based in a particular area but will serve a much wider area. Again, I will not repeat myself but we do not see the difficulty in the availability of substitution.

There are older schools and newer schools and I appreciate that. The money was made available and schools made their best judgment as to what works needed to be done. If there was addionality in terms of something extra that might be required they referred back to the Department. That is the system that has been put in place.

Regarding random testing in schools and the type of testing that will take place for children, to be fair, that is a medical decision and medical expertise will be required. As regards the type of testing, the public health team will make that decision and I would not presume for the Department of Education and Skills to stray into territory it is not an expert on. I will leave that best judgment to the medical experts.

On private buses I again reiterate that our arrangement is with Bus Éireann which may then subcontract. Private bus operators who make private arrangements are not within the jurisdiction of the Department. Guidance as to how they operate and what they need to do can only come from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport.