Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge, as has the Deputy, the huge body of work which has been conducted by all members of the school community, principals, teachers, SNAs, school secretaries, caretakers, boards of management, students and everyone who has contributed so positively to ensure our schools opened and stay open at level 5. In recognition of that, every effort has been made to support school leaders, as I mentioned earlier, with additional days offered, well-being supports with Spectrum.Life and school teams, which was a specific issue that was raised, as well as other issues which were raised. Notwithstanding that, I appreciate a great deal of work has been undertaken daily in schools.

On additional holidays, I am mindful that the school calendar has been agreed and parents are aware of it and have made necessary arrangements based on it. I am also very conscious that time has been missed during the year during the lockdown. We are working very hard to ensure there is no repeat of that time being lost and that it does not become a feature of this school year. I am conscious of the public health advice which tells us that students are much better served in school. Students have been disadvantaged when they are not in school. Schools, nationally and internationally, are very safe environments in terms of Covid-19. For those reasons and others, while I appreciate the goodwill with which the Deputy is making the suggestion, I will follow the public health advice at this time that things are operating well within our schools.

I appreciate the Deputy acknowledging the free books scheme. It is an initiative that I would like to see rolled out as much and as widely as possible. It has huge potential and that we have doubled it is testament to that. I acknowledge that DEIS is a particular area of interest to the Deputy and he has raised it consistently. I did use the phrase "imminently" last week but that was only on Thursday and today is Tuesday.