Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator McGreehan for her questions. Of course, another advocacy group could be formed. Parents form them all the time. There are many different parental representative bodies and groups already. I do not see any reason another cannot be set up by the parents at any time. It would not be something for the Department to do as such but I understand what the Senator is talking about in terms of a point of contact for parents. We liaise with parents all the time. I suppose another role of the NCSE is to liaise at a grassroots level with parents of children who are struggling with their needs and, indeed, the other advocacy organisations I mentioned earlier, AsIAm and Down Syndrome Ireland, and other representative groups.

In regard to the 50% capacity returning to 100%, I will welcome the decision when it happens. Hopefully, it will happen sooner rather than later. As I said earlier, it will be subject to Cabinet approval but we are hoping that it will be in early March. It will be an important development for students in these schools, because they have the greatest level of need, if we can at least get them back to a full routine and a full structure.

In terms of regression, as I mentioned earlier, the summer provision will help. That is a practical support. There are other supports that we give from a financial perspective but that is a practical support. The summer provision is primarily about the children but it also allows some sort of respite for the families, particularly when they have had extended periods at home looking after their children. I must emphasise the supplementary programme also because that is a radical new departure for the Department. It never existed previously. It is one-to-one home support which will supplement any other learning they are getting. It is five hours per week for four weeks, which is 20 hours. Any unused hours can be used by 30 April, including during the Easter holidays. There is scope there for families. It is open to all students in special schools and in special classes who are those with the greatest need. That should be of assistance also.

Lastly, in terms of it being an essential service, it is something I considered. The reality is providing education is an essential service. The difficulty is that it is not only the Department that makes the decisions. It is everybody who makes the decisions and until all concerned are assuaged, there is no reality in going back. The Department and everybody else takes its advice from public health advice. The Deputy is correct that it is an essential service.