Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Sinn Féin for bringing this very important motion before the Dáil to allow us to discuss this matter. I thank very much the students in County Kerry. I thank their parents, their teachers, the students' unions and the teachers' unions who, through no fault of their own, have had to endure a horrendous two years.

Following on from the meeting last week, which was all about getting clarity for everybody, I ask the Minister, Deputy Foley, to try to deal with this as a matter of urgency. Our students have had a horrendous time. They have been very disadvantaged during the whole Covid situation, again which was no fault or making of theirs. We are trying to give them an assurance that we will put in place a system that is most beneficial to them, and which would give them the greatest advantage of being the best that they can be, despite the upset in the tutorial programme and despite everything that has happened. These are our young people and we want them to have the best in life that they can have. We want them to achieve the best result they can get. The Minister comes from County Kerry and I know that she has nothing in her heart and soul only to take care of the students, but I ask that the Minister would come out please to clarify it and give us the clarity that we need. The teachers, the parents of the students and students themselves need clarity. They are the most important people of all. Any one of us here tonight does not matter. It is for the students. Their results mean so much to them. We want them to do the best that they can be for themselves.

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