Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. I will only take a minute to respond so we will keep on track with time. I could not agree more with everything the Deputy has said. Language is also important. The Deputy has covered everything, but how we communicate to people at present and how we use our language so as not be too alarming is also important. There is a lot of anxiety and stress. There is stress and pressure on the principals, teaching staff, parents and young people. Most importantly, we need to be calm and measured in our approach, response and asks. This is what the Deputy has articulated.

I want to place on the record an important piece of information to do with contact tracing. A process is in operation to support all ongoing school testing. As of 13 October, 364 schools had, or were having, testing completed as a consequence of a public health risk assessment. Of the 364 schools that have had mass tests, an additional 172 cases were detected and identified and 8,606 students and teachers have been involved in this mass testing. The testing and tracing system is working and demands on the system are being met by increased resources being applied by the HSE. The testing and tracing is operating seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

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