Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this motion and I commend my colleague, Deputy Ó Laoghaire, on bringing it forward. I will focus on the rural perspective when it comes to reopening schools post-Covid-19. A glaringly obvious issue with the plan for reopening schools that the Minister has brought forward is the fact that there is no recruitment of primary school teachers in it. This is a problem because schools faced issues getting substitute teachers long before we ever heard of Covid-19. There are particular issues for rural schools. Many newly qualified teachers are gone from those areas. Before Covid-19, teaching principals in primary schools had great difficulty getting substitute teachers for various days. Sometimes they just could not get them and other plans had to be put in place. That is going to be a major issue.

Is there a plan B in that regard, particularly in rural schools and with regard to the forming of panels? How will those panels be put together if the teachers simply are not available? Again, this will be difficult in rural areas. The pilot project for the panels was mentioned as being successful, but I heard a teacher from Meath on the radio in the past few days say that the pilot in that teacher's area was unsuccessful. That has to be looked at again. The additional one day per week for principals is very welcome and has long been sought. However, how will that work with regard to getting a substitute teacher in once a week every week? Will that teacher move between schools in rural areas?

Regarding the aid that will be made available to schools, could student teachers be employed? They will have missed out on some placements and it would be great experience for them. Could they be employed between now and the schools reopening to assist teachers and schools in reopening? I refer to special educational needs teachers moving from one school to another, especially in rural areas. How will that work and how will safety be ensured in those cases?

I also wish to mention school transport. It is an absolute nightmare for many parents throughout the country and particularly in rural areas. There is a real need for discretion regarding those applying for school transport.

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