Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I commend my colleague, Deputy Ó Laoghaire, not just on bringing the motion forward but also on the work he has done on education, particularly over the past few months. I hope we will see a far more proactive approach from the Minister on the issues in the education sector. It is not just Covid-19. There are serious issues throughout education and we need to see leadership from her on them.

This country has some of the largest class sizes in Europe, yet instead of taking the opportunity to address this issue now, nothing is being done about it. This issue is not new; it is years old. One of the first public meetings I attended in 2007 was on class sizes, yet we are still talking about it now. What plans will be in place for children with underlying health conditions or with parents who have underlying health conditions and where they do not feel it is safe for them to return to the classroom? I hope they will not be left isolated and abandoned and that there is a plan for them. There are also children with additional needs who have experienced a delay in their diagnosis, particularly of autism.

It might be clear to everyone that these children need ASD class places, but they just do not have it written down on paper because of the delays due to Covid. What will happen to these children? Where will they return to in September? Will there be any option for them? Every single year we have the same two issues: the lack of school places, whether at primary or secondary level; and school transport. Will the Department please look at areas that have been highlighted time and time again? A few weeks ago I highlighted with the Minister's predecessor the issue of the lack of secondary school places for boys in Kilkenny city. I only received a reply last week, and it leaves a lot to be desired. There is clearly an issue - it has been raised time and time again - with secondary school places in the area. Will the Department look at this, given that it knows there are capacity issues, actually do something about it and work with those of us who want to do something about it? Similarly, it may be a different town or village, but every single year there are areas in people's constituencies that do not have access to school transport. We know these issues exist, so will the Department please start being a bit proactive and look at long-term solutions? Every single year there is stress, worry and anxiety for students and parents that can be avoided if we are to look at long-term solutions to these issues.

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