Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

To clarify, there is consistent and ongoing engagement with all of the partners in education. I have a number of meetings scheduled this week with them but it is very much an ongoing engagement. The Department values the whole partnership approach. I want to be magnanimous in acknowledging the engagement across the board, not only by the teaching unions and managerial bodies but also the students and parent voices, throughout last summer, from September until December and through to the reopening of schools and that continues. Coming from an education background, this has been an experience of best practice in which we have had strong partnership. Anything that issues from the Department in terms of guidance or whatever will always be the result of consultation and discussion with the partners in education. That approach has worked well for us up to this point and it is most certainly my determination that it will be the process we will continue to employ.