Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The work programme of NESC does not cover any issues around the educational system, which is a glaring omission as far as I am concerned. We all know the Minister for Education and Skills also does not sit at the Cabinet sub-committee on Covid-19. To make progress, economically and socially, we need to manage and monitor all our developments in education and how they will interact.

I will raise with the Taoiseach an issue that has become topical as a result of what schools have been saying in recent times. We will have to bring in rapid testing across economic and social settings. I will raise this matter in the House every week because I do not have the capacity to understand why this testing is taking so long to introduce in this country. We have a 250-page report on this. Rapid testing is not a silver bullet but it will complement polymerase chain reaction, PCR, testing and help in schools, many economic settings such as factories and various social settings. Why is it taking so long? It will have a massive impact and would give some help in educational settings, whether third-level education or in schools. While it has not come through the regulatory validation process, the Taoiseach is aware that a secondary school in Cork city is using rapid testing all of the time. What is his opinion on that given that it is outside the regulatory setting? I understand the reason it is happening. It is because people are so frustrated. There are so many organisations that want to do this. We are allowing the GAA championships to go ahead, and I agree with that decision. What would happen if we could provide rapid testing to facilitate that and other elite sports all of the time? It would help those who are participating in the background in those sports. Will the Taoiseach outline to us where we are on this? When does he expect a decision on it? This has gone beyond a joke.

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