Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Ceann Comhairle and appreciate his indulgence. I again note that I was not given the facility to reply by the Deputies.

To Deputy Pringle, I say that after five months of school closures, from March to August, there was a view, shared by the Deputy and others, that it would not be possible to reopen the schools. In my Ministry, we delivered the reopening of schools after five months of closure. It was delivered because of considerable resources - €639 million - but also, largely and more importantly, and I recognise this and will consistently recognise it, because of the generous goodwill of school communities throughout the country. I knew it was right then to reopen the schools for the benefit of children with additional needs and all our children in education. It was the right thing to do then and it is the right thing to do now, in the midst of this wave of the pandemic, to ensure that children with additional needs are facilitated in the education sector. I will consistently work with all in the education sector to ensure that we deliver that. I am conscious of what is right. I know what is right and I will ensure that we will work collectively and consistently to deliver what is right.

I appreciate what Deputy Connolly said. I have spoken before about this Government's priorities. It, unlike many others, has provided a budget of €2 billion for the education of children with additional needs, giving it the importance that it deserves and giving it the priority that it should and must deserve.

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