Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I will ask these questions together and try to be as efficient as I can. I am not sure which subhead this would fall into, possibly A10, but possibly A4 as well. I will start with leaving certificate students. As the Minister knows, I disagree with the decision she took regarding the approach and many students were disappointed. My question is focused on budgetary matters. Students have regularly raised the anxiety, pressure, concerns and uncertainty that have been there. Will the Department consider a package for increased guidance counsellor support and in particular, a helpline for leaving certificate students, between now and the end of the school year? My second question relates to Covid-19 funding. While it is positive that as a society, Covid-19 perhaps poses less of a threat than it has in the past, we cannot pretend that it is not still a huge challenge to schools. Just today I was speaking to a teacher who advised that out of a staff of 40, there were 12 teachers out, as well as three SNAs, a principal and a vice-principal. Schools are still under savage pressure. We still need to tackle issues around filtration and long-term ventilation. It is remarkable in that context that there is no Covid-19 capital funding this year. Will the Minister ensure that the Covid-19 funding will continue into 2023? In particular, will she ensure that the helpline for school leaders is continued and indeed enhanced?

The Minister also announced things in the budget that I was very much in agreement with and supportive of, as well as some areas where I thought there was a shortfall. One that I welcomed was the investment in DEIS of €18 million, bringing the full year allocation to €32 million. This was something that I, and others, welcomed. I have raised with the Ministers that several schools throughout the State, including in my own constituency, the Togher schools and St. Maries of the Isle. Schools are now at the stage where workforce planning needs to happen. They need to know soon. What is the timescale for the roll-out of DEIS? How many schools are going to benefit? Will the Minister tell us that? She will also know that I am keen to inform the criteria to be constructive and if possible I would be grateful for an opportunity to meet with the officials.

My final question is under subheads A8 and A10. School secretaries have been fighting for fairness and equal pay for years. They are vital to keeping our schools going, particularly during Covid-19. In October 2020 the Tánaiste committed to the regularising of employment terms and conditions and pension rights of school secretaries. However, they have been kept in limbo. Progress is really slow. They feel let down. They feel the Department is not listening. It is very wrong that school secretaries are expected to sign on when school buildings are closed. It puts them in an insecure position during school holidays.

The Minister will say the matter is before the Workplace Relations Commission, WRC, but will she tell me whether it is her policy that secretaries should sign on during the summer? That is what Department officials are arguing. That is their position at this moment in time. I do not agree with that and I hope the Minister does not either.