Ms Mary Magner:

In the primary sector, the stark reality of years of underinvestment is primary schools do not even have principal's offices, not to mind awnings outside the door providing facilities to wash hands. We have token cleaning services. Our capitation is less than a euro a day per pupil. It would not buy a cup of coffee in today's world. This is an accumulation of years of underinvestment in education. Hot water is an absolute luxury in schools. Toilets are an absolute luxury in schools, at times. Pupils have to share toilets. Multiple classes have to share toilets. There are not toilets in every room in classrooms. It is a huge issue. We recognise the need to seek planning but when there is an emergency and a pandemic in the country, it has to be fast-tracked.