Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I missed a short period in the middle of the meeting so these questions may have been dealt with. I want to talk about the issue of choice.

We have discussed the importance of ensuring those who need that direct education are able to return to school but I am wondering about a related issue in terms of choice where there are children with a disability, for example, in families which may have a high-risk member. In many cases, the priority for the family is that the child return to school, but there are situations where the family wants to access remote learning to keep the connection with the school with a long-term view to moving back there, not moving to home schooling but looking at remote linking with the school over the next few months. There is a concern about children being marked absent in those circumstances. The problem is it seems to be very much on or off. One is either in or out of school, either home schooling or in full education. Have measures around, in certain situations, providing the option of remote learning on a temporary basis for those who seek it been looked at?

The Minister of State may have addressed the other issue. It is around an enhanced summer programme with additional supports. How do we look to ensure that, over June and July, we make up for lost time and try to enhance that programme? If the Minister of State would talk a little bit more about that, I would appreciate it. We have mentioned the issues around testing and so forth for special education staff. I thank the Minister of State.