Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
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I want to ask one or two things. I agree with what others have said about being impressed with our guests’ contributions, including their speeches and follow-up answers. Their honesty is incredible. I agree with Deputy Whitmore, it is a pity that we could not have had this engagement sooner, but I think it is great that we are having it now.

I want to ask about when the witnesses got back into school or doing activities if they have resumed those. I know from the experiences of my children, nieces and nephews that people felt very nervous about going back to school. It was not just about the virus but about interacting with people again. People had got used to being on their own, being in their own room doing their schoolwork. It was difficult to come out of that and go back to “normal”. How did the witnesses, or other kids that they know who are also in The Ark, feel about going back to school or doing activities? Was there a nervousness around that? Did they find there was help available, particularly when going back into school? If there was someone who was struggling and found school difficult, did they get the extra help they needed? Ms Howard can pass that question around.