Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 2 December 2021

Select Committee on Education and Skills

Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Supplementary)
Vote 45 - Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Supplementary)

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

As I mentioned earlier, obviously we are supportive of every tool that can be made available to us in the education sector provided it is recommended by public health. Therefore, I appreciate where the Department is coming from, but it is important that NIAC is comfortable with the decision and that it green lights it, as it were. For our part in the Department of Education, we have always supported public health and its recommendations. We have implemented its recommendations and that has served us well in the education sector. It is important to say it has been a source of great assurance and reassurance to parents and the entire school community that we have consistently followed public health advice. It has ensured our schools continue to operate and will operate going forward.