Chris Andrews (Dublin Bay South, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I want to put on the record that the decision last night by the Government to seal the records of the survivors of the mother and baby homes was both sad and shameful. It will go down as one of the most uncaring acts by this Government in the lifetime of this Dáil. History will not look kindly on this Government.

With regard to Covid-19, reducing teaching staff while increasing class sizes to more than 30 students is not only a disgraceful move by the Department of Education it is also reckless. The reduction of the four first class groups to three in St. Louis Infant School, in Rathmines, will see the pupil-teacher ratio hit 32:1. A pupil-teacher ratio of that size is unacceptable in the middle of a pandemic. The Government gave a commitment in its programme for Government to reduce class sizes, not drive them up higher. Aside from the negative effects of such a ratio during normal times, to increase those classes to more than 30 students during the pandemic and a level 5 lockdown is a reckless move by the Department of Education. Rathmines has one of the highest 14-day Covid-19 incidence rates in Dublin. St. Louis Infant School appealed this decision but the board of appeal ruled against it. In the ruling it cited that the board could consider only criteria which were drawn up pre-Covid, therefore, none of the real concerns relating to the increase in class sizes during the pandemic could be considered. We are not living in normal times. The board of appeal must be able to take into account this pandemic and the impact its decisions may have on the health and well-being of those children, their teachers and their families. The Minister must reverse this decision and bring common-sense to the situation. She must prevent the pupil-teacher ration rising during the pandemic.

When the level changes from 3 to 4 or down to 2, there will be confusion about who can play sport and the facilities and shops that can remain open. However, we have a situation where off-licences can remain open but gyms must close. Why are off-licences deemed to be more essential than gyms or playing golf? The closure of gyms is confusing. For the past 40 years, the first thing one sees when one walks into a gym is a bottle of disinfectant and the blue paper for customers to wipe down the machines they have used.

Sweating is not a new concept in gyms. They are designed to operate safely in these conditions. Under health and safety guidelines, a treadmill must have a minimum of 1.5 m of space behind it in case someone falls off, so social distancing is built in. Gyms are designed for social distancing and gym etiquette revolves around good hygiene. Gyms have done everything that has been asked of them. Every gym I have encountered has introduced extra cleaning, more distance between machines and has done anything else that has been asked of it. Gyms are so important to our physical and mental health, yet they have to close. Mental health services are stretched to the limit so gyms and sport are more important than ever in the personal battle against anxiety and depression.

The make-up of the return to sport expert group is much too narrow. This group has representatives from the GAA, soccer and rugby, which is right and proper, and beyond that there are three members from the Department responsible for sport and five from Sport Ireland. Where is the diversity? Where is the voice on that group for tennis, hockey, golf, athletics and swimming? The basis for decisions should not be a secret. We need transparency and clarity on gyms and that is not forthcoming. Why can the Government not sit down, produce a clear and concise rationale for the closure of gyms and sports like golf and tennis and explain it to the public? We deserve to know.

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