Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as an dá cheist. Bhain an chéad cheist leis an chostas agus an buiséad chun na bunscoileanna agus na meánscoileanna a oscailt i mí Mheán Fómhair. Tá an ceart aige. Beidh costas níos airde i gceist. Is é sin an fáth go bhfuil comhrá ar bun idir an Roinn Caiteachais Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe agus mo Roinn féin maidir leis an phlean. Is é sin an chéad bhealach.

Ach is é an dara bealach ná, nuair atá an plean le chéile agus muid ag breathnú ar an reachtaíocht, na pleananna atá againn fá choinne na scoileanna a oscailt i Meán Fómhair - na lámha a ní agus na reachtaíochtatá i gceist fosta. Táim cinnte go n-éireoidh an costas níos airde. Sin an fáth gur inis muid le Teachta Donohoe go mbeidh cinntí móra de dhíth maidir leis na rudaí sin nuair a bhíomar ag caint le mo chomhghleacaithe sa Rialtas an tseachtain seo a chuaigh thart.

The first question the Deputy raised related to the costs. He is right that there will be a massive cost involved in schools returning fully and having the proper guidelines in place and the necessary infrastructure around it to ensure teachers, staff and students are safe also. The engagement is ongoing now between the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. The memo I brought to Government last week outlined very clearly that there will be a decision to be made and approval from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for this exceptional cost.

I will address the second issue that Deputy raised in the minute I have left. As he correctly pointed out, the school meals programme kicked into gear at very short notice last Easter and at the time we were very much indebted to the schools for adapting to it so quickly. There was also a big voluntary engagement, some schools used the local GAA club and different voluntary groups and An Post stepped up to the challenge as well. I am having the conversation with the Minister for Social Protection, Regina Doherty. We are looking to do something in this area. I appreciate the Deputy raising it here today as well and something like this is not a political issue to be tossed across the Chamber. I certainly would be interested in hearing Deputy Ó Ríordáin's viewpoints on how we do this. As he is aware, the schools have been under pressure in dealing with the calculated grades process. In the more than 200 schools that have registered for the summer-based provision we will provide school meals, as well as for the DEIS schools involved in the summer camps, so that will be covered anyway. If the Deputy has any ideas or suggestions around how we do this and my instinct is that there is a great capacity out there at a community level as well, whether it is youth groups or community groups, perhaps there could be some sort of support there in trying to distribute the food as well because it is something that I would like to support.

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