Mr. Alan Mongey:

Certainly, at post-primary level, the Deputy mentioned more than 190 checks. From reading the HPSC document, there is a significant level of pre-preparation that needs to be done before we return to school. The month of August is an extremely challenging time for principals any year anyway in preparing for the new academic year. Primarily, what school leaders at post-primary level need is assistance to implement those practices.

We are problem solvers at post-primary level. We look at how we can get schools open. We are not afraid to put our shoulders to the wheel in implementing what has to be done but we require assistance to get it done. Considerable work is required. The documents produced, in terms of the draft return-to-work protocols and the document by the HPSC, clearly outline all of the individual issues that need to be looked at but that requires time. There is not time for principals and deputy principals alone to do that and assistance is required.

In addition, a significant financial package is required for schools. We want to see schools reopen. We want to students back in school. However, I am conscious of the current level of resourcing in schools. I have 1,000 pupils in my school and almost 100 staff. At present, I have one cleaner who is funded through the resources I get from, in my instance, an ETB, and I have to add funding to the pot for cleaning from the capitation grant that I get from the Department to subsidise that. Under the guidelines that are outlined, it is neither feasible nor possible for two cleaners to prepare and clean a school on an ongoing basis. A significant level of resourcing is required for schools in terms of a financial package to recruit additional cleaners. That is required urgently because, with Garda vetting and with the recruitment process that is involved, it takes time to do all of that. We cannot have a case in mid or late August, when, hopefully, these resources are provided to us, that we then begin that process. That needs to happen urgently in the next number of weeks.

Many school leaders will not get a summer break because we are preparing for the return to school. School leaders, and teachers, as the Deputy mentioned, have worked extremely hard during the remote learning when that was in place and a short holiday is needed over the next number of weeks. If we get the resources and clarity urgently, it will lessen the burden on school leaders.