Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Minister seems to be absolutely oblivious to the stress she has caused, not just to the families of the children in our education system but also to the workers in that education system. I urge the Minister to reflect on that aspect. Now is not the time for the trademark arrogance that we tend to expect from the Government. It is a time for engagement and perhaps a modicum of humility would also not go amiss. It might be alien to the Minister but I urge her to engage, open her ears and to listen to people who are trying to be constructive.

The views of many pupils, their teachers and school communities were ignored. That is what they told us. They told us that they felt that they were ignored and left until the last minute. We only have to look at the series of announcements, U-turns and repeat announcements to know that what was required was engagement. I note the Minister stated she met representatives of Down Syndrome Ireland, AsIAm and other advocacy groups. I note also the timing in that regard, which came after all the announcements, the resulting outcry and parents being forced onto the public media, where they do not want to be. Perhaps next time, planning and engagement is what the Minister needs to do and what needs to happen, not when the Minister is forced to do it but as a matter of course.

Many outstanding issues must be addressed, not the least of which is a contingency plan for the leaving certificate examinations. We all know it has been an extremely difficult time for leaving certificate students. I made a media appearance with one of the Minister's colleagues last week and he advised that if there was a need for a contingency plan, there would be one. That fundamentally misunderstands what a contingency plan is and what such a plan is for. Now is the time to put a contingency plan in place to ensure that choices are going to be available for those students in sixth year. Now is also the time for the Minister to provide leadership and reassurance to people, because that is what she should be doing.

Many opportunities in the education area have been missed. In my constituency in north County Dublin, we have many shovel-ready projects, including an Educate Together school in the Malahide and Portmarnock area. In Swords, for example, there is a chronic shortage of school places at primary and secondary level. It is the same in Skerries, Balbriggan, Malahide and Portmarnock. Siblings are being sent to schools miles apart because of the lack of places. Other children go to feeder schools and are then denied access to the secondary schools of their choice because of the lack of places.

There are projects that are ready to be started, classrooms that can be built and new schools to be delivered. Not only would this deliver necessary school places, it would also bring employment to north county Dublin. I implore the Minister to ensure these projects are funded. I also speak directly to the Ministers from my constituency to ensure these projects are delivered as a matter of priority.

I absolutely welcome the announcement the Minister has made on the reopening of special schools. It is very timely because we have heard from the parents, families and advocates of children with special educational and additional needs, and we rarely hear from them.

Will she confirm, as I have asked for, that there is a contingency plan, or a plan B, for the leaving certificate examination and will she publish that? One parent told me that although she was devastated at the U-turn by the Government on the reopening of special schools, it was good that "they are actually talking about our children". She said that the parents feel their children are finally on the agenda. Lines of communication have been opened. Will the Minister confirm that those lines of communication will remain open and that advocates for SEN children will have access to the Department and to her office?

With regard to the vaccine roll out, will the Minister ask the NIAC if it will prioritise people who have no option but to have close contact? There are people who have no option but to have close contact in the course of their work with the students and children they care for. Perhaps she will ask if those people will be prioritised with vaccinations.

I ask that she would publish the NPHET advice on working in a school environment for all the people who work in schools. It is not good enough to just say "They are safe". People want to see the advice and any risk assessments that are done.

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