Mr. John Boyle:

Could I clarify the position regarding our opening statement? We recognise that significant funding is put aside in schools in respect of sanitising and the purchase of PPE, but that does not necessarily translate into every member of staff having the benefit of that funding. For example, there is flexibility within the funding for the purchase of different types of masks. Our view from the beginning has been that if our members have any doubt about anything, whether returning to the workplace, having to self-isolate or what they have to wear, we advise that they wear whatever is most appropriate for them. For example, we have teachers who are in the exact same position as the people whom Fórsa and Mr. Pike represent, namely, SNAs. We have teachers who are looking after the intimate care needs of children with the assistance sometimes of SNAs, other times not because we may not have enough teachers or SNAs to look after special needs generally in primary. Then there is the matter of administering first aid - responsibility for which very often just falls upon the class teacher - in trying circumstances in playgrounds or classrooms. Our advice to our members and lead worker representatives is to demand that their boards of management provide what is available on the portal.

Nevertheless there will be differences with different workers and special schools. We are really worried about the special schools sector and we are also worried about the fact that in the special school sector there are children up to the age of 18, which came up earlier. We represent most of the members who teach there and there is not much distinction in the provision for those children on buses or in schools compared to the distinctions that are being made for students in the ordinary post-primary schools. There is a lack of clarity and that is why we have continuing stakeholder consultations and we need to get that clarity as soon as possible.