Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Dolan.

We will leave it there. I thank everybody for the debate, discussion and reflection on something that is engaging all of us. I have no doubt that we want to ensure that the school environment is a good and positive one for our students, teachers and all those in the school communities.

On behalf of the committee, I extend our gratitude to the witnesses and to those who they represent in school communities for all the incredible work they are doing on the ground, in particular over the last 14 months. It has been a really difficult time.

It is fair to say, and it has been mentioned, that generally speaking schools are positive environments now. There is a level of kindness and respect that maybe had been absent many years ago. It is important that we support that type of positive environment for all of those who work within it. Of course, we have situations where students will be bringing baggage from difficult home and community environments to schools. Insofar as we can, we should try to support our children to manage that and to ensure they have a positive experience within schools that will help them deal with the issues they deal with outside of school.

I thank the three witnesses for sharing their insights, expert knowledge and reflections on this important issue. The discussion itself has been of enormous assistance to us as a committee in our examination of the whole area of bullying and trying to support positive mental health in our schools. We are very grateful. We commend their obvious dedication and commitment to the Irish education system.

This meeting is now adjourned until Tuesday, 1 June 2021 at 3.30 p.m. for a meeting in public session. Go raibh maith agaibh.