Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister and the Minister of State for facilitating today's statements. I commend them and their Department on the work and stakeholder engagement undertaken to reopen schools. It has been an incredibly difficult time for students, parents and staff. The impact of the closure of schools must be recognised. However, it is far more important to have clarity over the schedule for reopening because of the speculation that runs amok on social media during an information vacuum. In these dark days, which are, thankfully, getting brighter, people need to know that we are again moving towards a greater sense of normality. The reopening of schools is not to be understated as part of that journey towards normality and it comes as a relief to many.

On the issue of the leaving certificate examinations, the Minister may be aware that I compiled a survey of leaving certificate students last Month. In Mayo, we have more than 3,500 students enrolled in the senior cycle, 1,800 of whom are in fifth year and 1,700 are in sixth year. I received more than 500 responses, indicating the seriousness of the issue. The majority of respondents supported calculated grades using standardised continuous assessment or the option of a scaled down exam. A worrying issue was the impact of remote learning, with roughly two out of five respondents stating that they had insufficient broadband and three in five stating that they found remote learning a negative experience. The outcome of the work that the Minister has done on the leaving certificate and returning students to school falls broadly in line with the views expressed to me. I know the Minister and her Department are working hard on these issues and it is important to recognise that work in the Chamber. Will the Minister provide some clarity on the remote learning issue?

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