Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I note Deputy Paudie O'Sullivan is not online and that Deputy Nolan, Senator Pauline O'Reilly, Deputy Jim O'Callaghan and Senator Mullen were all here on the last day. The members who were not here on the last day had a number of questions. I will allow the two Deputies back in. I have two quick questions.

The Department's statement on new and revised curricular specifications includes clear statements on digital learning skills and the use of digital technologies. It was mentioned in the debate in the Seanad last week. I would like to ask the officials if there are any plans to develop a national online learning programme, as recommended by this committee on the work that was done and on the report that was carried out and published on the impact of Covid-19 on primary and secondary education. At the time, SOLAS stated to the committee that it would be happy to assist the Department of Education in developing such a programme, similar to the one that the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science has in place. Has the Department been in contact with SOLAS in this regard? If not, do the officials see any merit in liaising with SOLAS officials to ascertain how this can be done? We have to learn lessons post Covid-19. It is great that the Government will have a separate report on Covid-19 and I have no doubt but that it will take health, education and living into account. However, this is just one part that we need to address. We need to see what the officials have to say on that.

As well as this, the Library Association of Ireland has recently corresponded with the committee regarding the need to increase the number of school libraries. This was a recommendation and I am nearly sure that it was in the programme for Government. I strongly believe in encouraging young children, both in primary and in post primary, to read. A love for books is fundamentally important. This is especially because, I think we can all agree, young children are now on technological devices. If they were allowed to stay on them, they would be on them morning, noon and night. I am a father of an 11-year-old, a ten-year-old and seven-year-old. I have no doubt every parent will agree with me and can put themselves in my shoes. I will not say the word "rows" because I do not want to be too dramatic, but it is continuously a fight to get young people off devices nowadays.

We need to give them the opportunity to read books, bring books home from school, exchange books and things like that. It is difficult for some families to go to the public library, but if the library is in the school, it gives them an opportunity to exchange books and bring books home.

Particularly during the pandemic, we have seen the effect that technology devices have on young children and families as a whole. There were no sporting activities and no school or anything else, so the only way to communicate was through devices. I tabled a parliamentary question before Christmas and I questioned the Minister about investment in more school books before the budget.

I have one further question after the witnesses answer those.