Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is hardly sufficient time to try to answer many of the queries, but I have done my best to try to take a note.

In my opening remarks I repeated our collective welcome that students with special educational needs will start to return to their classrooms from Thursday of this week. This will be an important milestone from which we can build towards a full return for all students. I thank all the Members here today who have shared their views and experiences. It is clear that the whole House is motivated by a desire to support students with additional needs, particularly at this challenging time.

Many issues and questions have been raised. My officials and I will certainly take account of most of these and try to come back to Senators.

Senators Craughwell and Byrne talked about antigen testing. Ultimately that is led by public health. The HSE does not recommend it at present and the WHO does not recommend it in schools either.

Senator Bacik talked about clarity and certainty, and planning post Covid. The Department keeps that under consideration all the time. We are very concerned about regression. We need to learn from this period of time and bring that forward with us.

In response to Senator Dolan, letters and guidance were issued to all schools regarding the supplementary program. She mentioned school transport, which has safety measures in place. It is, obviously, not logistically possible to provide separate transport arrangements.

Senator Conway mentioned engagement by the NCBI with the NCSE regarding a visiting teacher service for the visually disabled. I will follow up on that as well.

I appreciate Senator Dooley's comments. We are working on all those issues.

I take Senator Boyhan's point about updating documents and the holistic approach he spoke about in education. They are very valid points and I will look further into them.

I know senator Seery Kearney is a strong advocate of ASD units. I am aware of the work of Involve Autism. Obviously, we will open about 1,200 special class places and about 200 special classes. The work is ongoing. Section 37A of the Education Act is always available to me. It is not a mechanism I want to use. In the first instance we want to work with the schools, but I take the Senator's points on board.

In response to Senator Flynn, the lessons we have learned from the whole of society for how to deal with the pandemic is something we need to bring forward as well. I appreciate her comments also.

Senator O'Loughlin has a brother with Down's syndrome and she knows acutely of the needs of children with special needs. Again, I take her contribution on board.

In response to Senator Cummins, I hope to visit St. Paul's in Waterford at some stage when the school has opened. I appreciate his comments about prioritising the most vulnerable, which we must do at all times.

Senator Warfield talked about building good relations and ensuring we have good relations with our education partners. We are in continual engagement with them at all times. There are many constituent parts within the education sector, and we all need to try to work together to ensure that we continue with the reopening of schools and indeed to a full reopening over the coming weeks.

I say to Senator Carrigy that we want to collaborate and work with our education partners. I know that, along with Senator Dolan, he has an interest in all these issues. I hope we can get children with special educational needs back into mainstream schools soon. It was a mobilisation issue which meant that thus far they have not been reopened, but we hope that will happen in the coming weeks. Obviously, we hope there will be an announcement on the leaving certificate in the near future as well. This matter does not fall not under my remit but I will bring it to the attention of the Minister. I know the advisory council group is meeting on an ongoing basis to try to come up with solutions, but I understand that there is a need for clarity as soon as possible.

Senator Lombard spoke about ASD units in Bandon in County Cork. I will take all his comments on board. I only have a minute left.