David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am sharing time with Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan. I take this opportunity, the first chance I have had, sincerely to wish the Minister well in her role. It is a very important role and I congratulate her on her appointment.

September is usually an extraordinarily busy time in schools and this September has been no exception. I recognise the work that schools, teachers, principals, staff and officials in the Department have done to ensure that the schools opened. I contacted some schools in my area in recent days. The reports I have been getting back are generally positive, which is a good sign. Let us hope it continues like that. Everyone has been working hard to make it happen.

Some issues have arisen. I know the Minister has been conscious of the needs of vulnerable teachers and medically vulnerable students. Another issue relates to where there might be a vulnerable family member at home. There are concerns that in some instances teenagers are coming back into a home where there is someone who is medically challenged and this is causing concern. Has the Minister addressed this and whether there are mechanisms in place to allow such a student to work from home and maybe use webcam facilities to be virtually present in the classroom? That is one suggestion. Several families have been in contact with me and they are concerned about that.

Colleagues have already mentioned the issue of school transport. It is a major concern. The concessionary ticket comes up again and again. Last year, it was a major concern but thankfully extra funding was found to make it go away. A relatively small amount of money did solve the problem. Let us put ourselves in the situation of a parent who for three or four years has had a child going to a school under the concessionary ticket regime. Let us suppose that at the last minute they are told there is no ticket this year. What do they do? If both parents are working, how is that family going to cope? This is a major challenge.

Another issue arises. I came across one instance involving a family who had paid €170 for the ticket for the year but the actual cost was €175. They had made a mistake. They were told they were not getting a ticket because the portal had closed, tough luck. That kind of inflexibility should not occur. I ask the Minister to look at the issue of school transport and concessionary tickets. There are some instances - I know the Minister is aware - in my area, which includes Middleton and Carrigtwohill, which are very close. If both towns were seen as one education centre for school transport purposes, it would solve many problems in that area. That may be something the Minister might take on board.

The weight of schoolbooks is something that has come up again and again. I understand that lockers are no longer being used because of space requirements in schools. The weight of school bags is a concern. We need to see whether we can have virtual copies of books and whether the Minister can make available funding to students who need to buy extra laptops, tablets and so on. That might cut down on the problem. Over the years we have had debates about the weight of school bags and the damage this can cause to the backs of young children. Physiotherapists and others have been aware of that.

There has been some concern about the availability of sanitisers and other equipment in schools. I heard what the Minister said earlier. She said that would happen and that funding has been made available, which is important.

I heard other colleagues talking about career guidance counselling. I have some experience of that myself. I suggest that a guidance counsellor in a school cannot solve every problem. Every teacher can become the significant adult in the child's life. Children can be concerned at this time and it is important that they have a listening ear. I know that professional teachers will make themselves available for that while the guidance counsellor acts as back-up and support in those instances.

I thank the Minister for what she has done. I thank the officials in her Department and the teachers and staff throughout the country. Let us hope the progress to date continues in a positive way.

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