Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister and Minister of State for coming before us. This is a broadly positive conversation about provision for Ukrainian children and I acknowledge the flexibility that the Department has shown on the back of a very difficult period with Covid-19 and facing into another difficult period in accommodating children from Ukraine. The Minister and Minister of State should be commended on the work they have done, along with school communities, teachers and principals who have worked in every corner of the country.

My question has been answered, somewhat, in that it concerns the integration aims that the Minister of State, Deputy Madigan, and the Minister, Deputy Foley, touched on with the REALTs. At this stage of the discussion, there could be more very specific questions, notwithstanding the reference by the Minister, Deputy Foley, to the period where some children may need to adjust to our life in Ireland before attending school. Is the Department aware of any children not attending school after a certain period has elapsed? Is there a mechanism to ensure students are either participating in Ukrainian online schooling or in an Irish classroom?

The measures announced by the Government very recently regarding Citywest poses a question. If we put that many Ukrainian families into such a large facility, with over 700 rooms, will it put too much pressure on schools in that community? Related to Senator O'Loughlin's question and the response of the Minister, Deputy Foley, is the question of whether we are confident in the transport systems in place for those children to be bussed to the school to which they have been allocated or which they have selected, depending on availability? Ensuring the children have seamless access to education is critical.

My final question relates to the number of students in Ireland accessing online learning. Do we have a breakdown of that for primary and secondary levels? Is it concentrated in the students' equivalent of the leaving certificate. I note the Minister mentioned that it was suspended. Do we have any Ukrainian students in sixth year in the Irish education system and are they going to be sitting the leaving certificate? What mechanisms have we in place for those students? I apologise if I missed an answer to this in prior questioning.