Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Chairman for allowing me to sit in on the meeting. The Minister of State will probably think I am following her at this stage because I have been plaguing her in recent times. I have a number of points and questions I would like to raise rather than giving a speech. I am seeking clarification on a number of issues from the Minister of State and her officials.

We have spoken about the negative impacts all children, particularly those in special education, have experienced during lockdown and Covid. Has there been any analysis of that in the Department or has any report been drawn up to analyse the empirical data and the impact in order to quantify that regression? If such a report exists, could the Minister of State elaborate on it and, if one does not exist, is it worth giving consideration to compiling one?

In the case of students who, for health reasons or due to underlying health conditions, choose not to return to special education in the coming weeks, will the Minister of State clarify specifically what supports they might receive?

The Chairman mentioned in his opening comments that we are reasonably well catered for at primary level with ASD units and special education provision, but when children hit second level many parents speak of the delivery of supports almost falling off a cliff. I recognise the massive investment that has happened over the last decade, to which the Minister of State alluded in her opening remarks. The numbers of teachers, SNAs and ASD classes have dramatically increased. Obviously, there is a massive demand there and I am concerned that we are not catering for it. Deputy Cairns and Senator McGreehan mentioned facilitating ASD units. What is the Minister of State's policy in that regard? I can only speak about Cork county and city. There is one suburb in Cork with a population of 20,000, which has three secondary schools and not one ASD unit. New schools are being asked to provide ASD units but existing schools have to pick up the slack and if they are not willing to do that voluntarily we have to consider a change in policy or direction. That is just one example of one suburb in Cork with a population of 20,000 and no ASD unit in place.

My final question relates to school transport and buses. We have a particular issue in the Cope Foundation in Cork, where buses provided by Bus Éireann are facilitating three schools on one campus. Those children go into their bubbles in class and remain in them, but as soon as they come back out to the buses, three cohorts of students go on the same bus. Will the Minister of State, or one of her officials, clarify if that is still supposed to be happening? I do not think it is.