Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I agree with the Deputy that the provision of special education remains an absolute priority to ensure that children with additional needs are catered for in the midst of a lockdown and otherwise. It was for all of those reasons that I and the Government made the decision that in the midst of the current lockdown that children with additional needs would be catered for but that proved difficult for the partners in education. We are in a better position now and I am happy with the announcement that has been made today.

In terms of operating in complete partnership with the parents, students and teachers, that has always been the hallmark of everything that we have done in education. The Deputy specifically raised the leaving certificate. The advisory committee is constituted to include parents, teachers, students, managerial bodies, principals, deputy principals and all of those engaged in the sector. The Deputy should be under no illusions about that. The advisory committee continues to meet. Accommodations that were necessary for the leaving certificate were put in place last year. The advisory committee will continue to look at all contingencies and measures as regards leaving certificate 2021.

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