Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will rattle through those questions. Deputy Dillon raised the issue of the fifth year post-primary students. It has been raised a number of times in this House and it is something I am conscious of in terms of their own loss. It was not just about the leaving certificate students of 2020; it was the leaving certificate group of 2021. In terms of what we are doing in that instance and what is ongoing, discussions are taking place between the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment and Department of Education and Skills officials in regard to the curriculum and trying to meet the needs of that particular group because not alone did they lose out on class time, they were also disadvantaged even in terms of preparing for practical work and getting important work like that over the line. We are taking that into consideration but there will be a conclusion to those deliberations and I will keep the House informed on that.

The Deputy spoke about prospective student teachers and making sure they have information in time. That will be critical and I will ensure that will happen. He also spoke about the island communities and ensuring that we have provision in respect of the issue he raised.

Deputy Higgins spoke about the profound and complex needs of a constituent.

Unfortunately for some parents, a school will not be available for one reason or another. In some instances, schools have never opened for July provision, and doing so this year would be a big departure. I assure the Deputy and the parents of children with severe or profound complex disabilities that we will try our best to facilitate them. If the Deputy could send on the details of the individual in question, I will ask my officials to look into the case.

Deputy Feighan keeps raising the issue of Carrick-on-Shannon. I cannot give the House an update today but I will be happy to ask my officials, one of whom is sitting to my right, to follow up on that issue and contact the Deputy and the school directly. Deputy O'Donnell mentioned St. Gabriel's school. He has raised it with my team several times now. The school's management is looking for clarity and public health guidelines to protect students as we open summer provision. Schools will be provided with an update on guidelines. I am confident that when the final public health guidelines on social distancing are published following a meeting with stakeholders tomorrow morning we will be in a position to facilitate the likes of St. Gabriel's school. As I outlined in my speech, social distancing will not be a requirement in the case of children with special educational needs. We have to apply common sense and a real-world understanding of that interaction. Special needs assistants and teachers have very special relationships with children with special educational needs. Sometimes that special relationship manifests itself in a close physical relationship and it is very important that special educational needs are facilitated. That will be made clear in the guidelines tomorrow.

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