Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I do not believe the witnesses present had the opportunity to see the previous session, meaning they are at something of a disadvantage. The committee is focused on the delivery of the July provision. We have listened to 15 minutes of various contributions and I agree with many of them.

Not one representative in that 15-minute period mentioned the July provision or what teachers can do to enhance July provision. I have the list of things that were mentioned, including investment in a whole range of things, all of which are important but not once did the representatives mention what teachers can do to offer and not once did they address our concern around the delivery of the summer provision programme. Reference was made to the unwillingness of the Department to facilitate resourcing; investment before during and after; school building investment; school supports; and health supports - all correct; and assigned SENOs, special educational needs organisers.

I totally agree with Ms Kelly about the health and social care professionals, HSCPs, and the Department of Health and a range of other points and other criticisms, including redeployment schemes. All correct but there was not one reference to what teachers can do to enhance July provision. With every respect, there was not one reference. It is like, "We have 99 problems but July provision ain't one." I am not trying to be funny but 400 children out of 8,000 got the full four weeks of July provision last year. We heard from the Teaching Council that there are 116,000 registered teachers, and an additional 3,500 were made available who could help to provide July provision. As a committee, we just do not hear what is happening, what is the extra contribution for what can be done, or what is the plan. It is of huge concern. We are already engaged on the health side. That is the point of this committee. We are trying to address it piece by piece with everybody. We are not here to hear a list of demands. We are here to get solutions. It is deeply frustrating to have listened to 15 minutes of important content but without one constructive point for what the representatives believe teachers will do within the next 12 months to make sure that this statistic in respect of children and July provision does not happen again. I leave it open to the witnesses. What is going to be different this time next year from the teachers' perspective?