Mr. Paul Crone:

I thank the Senator. The census data are very welcome. In my previous role, before working with the NAPD, I worked with the City of Dublin Education and Training Board and was very involved with looking at school places and buildings and considering the demographic needs of the particular areas. Again, I do not have the figures in front of me but the anticipated cap in numbers is around 2024 in the post-primary sector. That may be contradicted in this census and that is why the process will be very interesting. We are in the middle of a teacher supply and school building crisis and we must know, as we come out of Covid-19, where there is light at the end of the tunnel. The census will provide that information for us. As stakeholders in education, we have a responsibility to get involved and drive that debate to ensure schools are supported. It is very difficult for communities and parents not to understand why there are delays in that area.

The Senator asked about engaging parents, which is a major concern coming out of the pandemic. The DEIS programme has been phenomenally successful and looking at our international scores in the PISA studies has indicated it has been very successful. It is being looked at internationally as a success. Through the home school liaison scheme, the DEIS schools have managed to connect parents with schools. They have actively sought that and done much work in improving attendance, attainment, retention and transition. Despite all of those, there was big fear during the pandemic with remote teaching and schools, which were inclusive environments and a hive of activity until 5 p.m., 5.30 p.m. or 6 p.m., when the caretakers locked the door, are now empty by 3.30 p.m. because of Covid-19. There is a huge job to be done and a real fear that the work that has been done in DEIS over the past ten years has perhaps lost some ground. It will have to be a priority. We are waiting on the review of DEIS.