Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

To respond to Deputy Gannon's point on compassion, I have a lot of sympathy for this. When I was Minister for Education and Science 20 years ago, I tried to introduce an alternative approach for someone who suffers an appalling bereavement or trauma in the middle of the leaving certificate examination. To be fair, at the time the view of the examinations section was it could undermine broader marking schemes. It was considering this with a view towards fairness. That said, unfortunately, some people suffer a terrible trauma and students are expected to go through exams in the middle or aftermath of such a trauma. There is a big legitimate issue and I will ask the Minister for Education to look at it again not just with regard to 2019 but more broadly given the experiences we have had during Covid.

In response to Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan regarding special needs and genuine ASD needs and provision, and Deputy Quinlivan in terms of the review, I have been in touch with the Minister for Education in relation to that and I am pursuing that. I myself have been involved in that for quite some time and I am anxious that that review would come to a conclusion. The Minister will be back to me, hopefully, within a short time.

Deputy Boyd Barrett mentioned some individual specific schools which I can relate back to the Department. I do not have the operational details on specific schools.

In response to Deputy Paul Murphy, I am not aware of that given situation in terms of examiners and the assertions the Deputy made. I am sure the Department will respond to those assertions and we will seek replies on those.

In terms of technology in post-primary schools, for many years Governments have been supporting technology in post-primary schools. The latest economic recovery plan - we have applied to Europe for substantial funding for a recovery and resilience plan - involves very substantial investment in technology in schools of up to €60 million, if I am not mistaken. That would take a variety of forms in terms of both increased connectivity for schools and the deployment of technology devices etc.

In fairness, there has always been a policy to discriminate in favour of Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools, DEIS, schools or schools where there are considerable socioeconomic disadvantage.

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