Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy and I appreciate his comments. The Minister of State, Deputy Madigan, and I are adamant that keeping our schools open is an absolute priority for us. It is a priority for the Government, and the Deputy is correct that it is a priority also for wider society. If we have learned anything through Covid, we have learned of the need to keep the schools open, and that children and young people are best served when they are actually in school and in the school setting. Notwithstanding the situations where there had to be remote teaching and learning, and acknowledging the enormous body of work done by the school community to facilitate that, the entire school community is of the strong view that children are best served while in the school setting. The Minister of State, Deputy Madigan, and I are ensuring every possible support and every possible resource that is required is put in place in all aspects of education.

Specifically on the antigen testing, the Deputy will be aware it is a public health recommendation. It was advised by the Chief Medical Officer to be implemented by the HSE. It is a health implementation. Obviously, my Department co-operates fully with the Department of Health in that regard, but the evaluation of it is very much for the Department of Health. It began on Monday, and there has been extraordinary buy-in by parents and everyone concerned. We have seen the applications for antigen tests. There were significant applications on Monday, fewer on Tuesday and possibly fewer again as we go on. The co-operation from families has been extraordinary. Public Health has been very clear in saying antigen testing is just one tool along with all of the other infection prevention and control measures that exist within our schools such as hand cleaning, hand sanitising, personal protective equipment, additional supervision, reconfiguration of buildings and so on. It is a necessary tool. To answer the Deputy's question, it is a Department of Health and HSE initiative, and it is being managed by them, but obviously we will support that in any way we can.