Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy and appreciate his kind words.

I welcome the publication of the ESRI report, The Implications of the Covid 19 Pandemic for Policy in Relation to Children and Young People: A Policy View. The report details the impact of the pandemic on the lives of children and young people both directly because of the closure of schools and a lack of face-to-face interactions, and indirectly because of increased financial stress that many families in Ireland are now experiencing as a consequence of Covid-19.

My Department is acutely aware of the implications of the pandemic on the lives of pupils, including "learning loss" experienced by many students and the particular challenges facing students with special educational needs, many of whom may struggle to readjust with the routine of school in the autumn, and the importance of supporting the well-being of all our students and school community.

Since schools closed on 12 March, my Department has provided a suite of supports and resources for schools, parents and students. Many of these are specifically targeted at supporting the most vulnerable students, including those with special educational needs and students at greatest risk of educational disadvantage. My Department, in consultation with educational support services such as the professional development service for teachers and junior cycle for teachers, and with agencies of the Department, including the National Council for Curriculum Assessment, the National Council for Special Education and the National Council for Guidance in Education, along with stakeholders has developed a three-phase approach to providing well-being supports on return to school. Supporting the well-being of school communities as they return is at the heart of this planning and maximising contact time with schools in the first term of the year ahead and re-establishing relationships with schools will be an absolute priority. 

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