Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge the significant background work to get students back into the classroom. It did not happen overnight. There was significant relief in many households when students returned to the classroom. The phased nature of the return has been a challenge for many families, with some siblings in school and others out, as well as for teachers' families. There is a particular concern that SNAs and teachers who may be pregnant are at higher risk and that the vaccine is not an option for them. What provision will be made to cater for these higher risk people? I draw particular attention to SNAs who may be providing more up-close and personal care for people. They would be at a higher risk not necessarily due to a condition but because of the type of work and personal support they are providing. That needs to be taken into consideration.

Many bus drivers will be working short hours, more irregularly and for lower incomes. If they are in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment, there will be a tax implication as they return. They are concerned that because the pay is so low and the tax take will hurt, it will hardly be worth their while. I ask the Minister to engage with the Minister for Finance to clarify this and make sure that it would not be an impediment for bus drivers.

Substitute teachers lost out during the lockdown, not just because of pay but also because of increments and pension entitlements that they would have expected to accrue at the time. They were probably the only school workers who were losing out. I ask the Minister to examine this one-off incident to see if it can be addressed so that they can regain those entitlements, otherwise they will end up with a large buy-back for their pensions and issues with increments.

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