Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail)
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I have many little notes scribbled down, so I hope I can make sense of them during my six minutes.

First, I wish to echo and re-emphasise our huge gratitude and appreciation of the whole school community and every single school in respect of the reopening the schools and keeping them opened. We can never say it enough. We appreciate also the leadership that was shown, because it was not just about the hard work. People within the school campuses, parents and children needed confidence from their school leaders and they did an excellent job.

I thank the witnesses for their statements and submissions. There was some commonality in them in respect of the need for smaller class sizes; the digital divide; the physical buildings issue; the pay equality issue, which is really important; and the restoration of middle management, which is key. I must say that I am really glad that over the past few months - thanks to Mr. Pike and Fórsa - school secretaries and the caretakers have been brought into the family, so to speak, because as one school principal said to me, caretakers are facility managers as opposed to caretakers, particularly in the context of Covid-19.

On the issue of DEIS, I completely support doing what we can for those that are vulnerable or disadvantaged, but there are so many of those children in non-DEIS schools and sometimes we can caught up with the distinction between DEIS and non-DEIS schools. However, I certainly think that it is welcome that the responsibility for the school completion programme is moving from Tusla to the Department for Education.

I support the call for teachers to get the Covid vaccine and that should happen after it is given to healthcare workers. I agree with that call.

Regarding the call for the Minister to meet with the unions before Christmas, I think that is a very reasonable ask. However, it needs to be acknowledged that weekly calls are taking place with her office and Department, and I have no doubt that she is very well informed of the issues, but it would be good to have that meeting.

The teacher supply system is concerning, and it absolutely needs to be looked at. It is a huge concern if teachers are leaving special classes or autistic spectrum disorder units, as Mr. Boyle has outlined. He said in his submission that 80% of teachers said that children with special educational needs, SEN, were those most impacted by the closure of schools, but if they are now being further impacted, I would say that we are reaching a crisis point in relation to the issue, and that is something that we need to take on board.

I have a few quick questions for the witnesses. First, is there any immediate measure that needs to be put in place, and if so, what is it? I also ask them to comment on contingency plans for a possible further school closure, which none of us wants to happen. They might also speak to the issue of teachers or pupils who have to self-isolate, particularly pupils and how they can continue their education during that period.