Micheál Carrigy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I echo the comments with regard to what we have read in the newspapers this morning. The CEO of the HSE should answer whatever questions we have.

I want to raise an important issue in my area, which is turbary rights, Bord na Móna and all that goes with it. Many families in the midlands and throughout the country have such rights and have cut turf for generations, and they are entitled to a just transition. I ask that Mr. Kieran Mulvey, who is the just transition commissioner, be brought in and asked to mediate on this issue and that he would be part of the peat consultation group. Mr. Mulvey has excellent experience in this area. Given he has been appointed as the just transition commissioner, I ask that that would happen.

Today, my children have left school. Many schools have closed at 12 o'clock today for the Easter break. I am aware that many schools are sending home their schoolbooks out of fear that with the rising Covid numbers, they might not reopen on 12 April. That cannot be allowed to happen. A strong message needs to go out that we must have a quieter Easter to ensure a return to school by all children, including those with special needs. This is the only country in western Europe where children were not at school and it is incumbent on Fórsa and the INTO to come out and strongly state that this will not happen again should any issue arise in our schools. It is extremely important. I have been contacted by parents, one of whom stated:

I think it would be impossible to quantify the amount of commitment and dedication required to raise a child with complex needs. All of us families do so without question, we love and value our children dearly. However to continue to do so for their lifetime we do need to retain our support systems, without exception ....

[The SEP programme, which was introduced] has been mostly unsuccessful. It has been near impossible for most families to engage in services of a teacher of SNA to deliver the programme. In-school learning is the proven best choice for our children [and that is the way it must be].