Lorraine Clifford-Lee (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am sharing time with Senator Malcolm Byrne. I thank the Minister for taking the time to come into the House and explain the rationale behind level 5. There has been a wide acceptance of the level 5 recommendations and good public buy-in. Many people have been upset by the measures. Business owners have been very upset because the very hard work they have put into their businesses has evaporated overnight. However, the supports the Government has put in place have been very good. I particularly commend the Government on introducing social bubbles because it addressed what was a really big issue in the first lockdown. It is a very welcome step.

I wish to raise the issue of expectant mothers and their partners during the coming months until we come out of this pandemic, whether we are in level 5, level 4, level 3 or another level.It needs to be addressed. I am inundated on a daily basis by expectant mothers who are going through extreme anxiety facing an unknown process alone. They need the vital support and advocacy of a partner with them at appointments, in the labour process and during post-birth visits. I would appreciate if the Minister could work with the HSE and come up with a solution because it affects a whole cohort of women and will stay with them for the rest of their lives and will be a very significant issue down the line if it is not tackled now.

I also wish to raise the impact of level 5 restrictions on young people. I had a Zoom meeting last night with a number of colleagues and members of Ógra Fianna Fáil around the country. They raised some very important issues about driving tests that I will raise with the Taoiseach. Under level 5, driving tests are not happening at the moment except for essential workers. There is now a 30-week wait for a driving test. Young people in rural Ireland are finding it very difficult because they cannot leave their homes without the ability to sit and pass their driving test, so we need to look at that. Rural isolation is a significant issue in the best of times but particularly during the current restrictions.

The issue relating to the leaving certificate needs to be resolved. We have very anxious fifth and sixth-year students who are undergoing a lot of continuous assessment, more than normal, in the expectation that the plug might be pulled on the exams down the line yet still they are expected to study and prepare for a traditional leaving certificate. This is very stressful and is impacting on their mental health.

On-campus activities need to be looked at. Perhaps social bubbles for college societies and clubs could be looked once we move out of level 5. Could clubs and societies meet with the 1 m distancing rule with masks? It would be a massive help to young people if they could meet up with their chess club or football club and so on. It would help enormously with their college experience and mental health.

We also need to look at the online learning system, which is not working for a lot of people. Many students have told me that they are worried that their learning has been impacted by this and they might fail exams and have to repeat years, which is a very significant issue.

Could the Minister address providing supports for vulnerable people living in temporary accommodation and in direct provision? This is a particularly important issue because of the living situation. We are all being asked to stay at home but some people, particularly people in these situations, do not have adequate housing.

We also need to look at providing extra support and resources to the Traveller and Roma communities, who already face massive health inequalities and have poor health outcomes. I have written to the Minister about this issue. I know Pavee Point Traveller and Roma Centre has asked to meet him to discuss the impact of the Covid-19 restrictions on these communities and I would very much like the Minister to meet with it because these communities face massive health inequalities as it is. They are doing a super job to contain the virus within their communities but they need extra help. I would appreciate it if the Minister could address those points.