Richard O'Donoghue (Limerick County, Independent) | Oireachtas source

In the programme for Government, I highlight the section on building stronger and safer communities on page 84. It states:

Community safety is at the heart of the ongoing transformation of An Garda Síochána. The new Government will ensure that this will be a key part of our social contract with citizens. An Garda Síochána is enriched by its resilient links in the areas it works with and protects.

There must be clarity regarding the protection of all our citizens, especially children, following Covid. It has come to my attention in my constituency that various people are coming back from holidays or from working abroad in the UK or Germany, and other countries, and are not isolating.

We must look after children and families who are staying home in Ireland and who are not travelling for holidays. In the context of the programme for Government and the issue of community safety, how will the return to school be policed? People are travelling by air and by ferry. There must be a system linked to passport numbers in order that schools can be alerted in advance about children who should be isolating. Where parents travel for work and return home to their families, children may need to stay out of school while their parents are isolating. September is fast approaching and self-isolation for children will have to commence by the middle of August in order that they can return to school.

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