Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

On future projected numbers, I reiterate we are clear of our capacity in having a potential 25,000 places at primary school and 20,000 at post-primary. REALT, which has been an invaluable resource to us, and I acknowledge the work of the 16 ETBs in leading that, is liaising very closely with the planning and building unit to manage our projected enrolments. References were made to families still coming over the summer. REALT will have access to the capacity limits and otherwise that are available to the planning and building unit. That will be a useful resource for them as we source places for students as they arrive over the summer to be ready for September.

In respect of the children and young people who come with particular traumatic experiences, to be fair, and I have met many of the students, it is very difficult, especially with the younger ones, to know exactly what they have seen and what their little minds are processing. I acknowledge the work of our National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS, psychologists on the ground. Significant work is being done by NEPS on programmes for schools and webinars, in particular its great emphasis on a psychosocial response in our schools. Ensuring that the school environment for children and young people is safe and calm, and a place of connectedness for them, is a point consistently raised with me.

I want to acknowledge that work and any additional supports, and that is not just the supports from a NEPS point of view but across the board. The Department has not been found wanting in making those supports available. In terms of the leaving certificate, the Deputy raised a very good point that many of the students who come here are probably in the upper senior cycle. I want to acknowledge that some of them - just over a 1,000 of them - continue to engage with the online Ukrainian system of education. Again, I want to salute the schools that have made this possible for those who want to do it. Many others are very happy to move into different year groups. The inspectorate is working very closely with the schools in helping them to identify what year groups at the senior level, as raised by the Deputy, are appropriate to the students.