Eileen Flynn (Independent)
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I will not keep the witnesses for long because I do not want to repeat what some members have already asked in other questions. I thank each and every one of the witnesses for coming in and presenting to us today, and I thank their trade union members. The teachers, SNAs, cleaners and bus drivers, down to the caretakers in schools are all essential workers. They should be treated and valued as such. Mr. Boyle said that "if we invest for the best we will get the best." I like that quote. A lot of our teachers are also mothers and fathers and they have children and loved ones at home who are at high risk. We should listen to the professionals who are in the education system and who deal with young people on a daily basis.

I have a question that is a little bit different from those of other members, namely on homework clubs, breakfast clubs and lunch clubs in schools. As we all know, there is a great level of poverty in Ireland. Many children are homeless, in direct provision or from the Traveller community and other ethnic minority groups. What extra measures, if any, are being put in place for the vulnerable children at the margins of Irish society?

My other question is on broadband for children in rural Ireland. Is there a grant for this? I know there have been four or five announcements in recent months on a budget up to December. I am sure I even heard a budget announcement on the radio this morning but the same announcement has been made a few times. How are we making sure that children in poverty are not falling through the loops in the middle of a pandemic?

On further and higher education, people who access higher education have to attend if it is a post-leaving certificate, PLC course, for example. People who are doing degrees in universities, however, can do their courses online. Why is it not optional for both?