Micheál Carrigy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister and acknowledge the work she has done since she came into her role. I acknowledge also her staff and the role of all teachers in our schools, whether primary, post-primary or third level, for the work they have done over the past 12 months. It is very important our kids are in school. My wife, Una, is a primary school teacher and I have three kids who are all in primary school. Indeed, I dropped them into childcare earlier on my way up to Dublin. My oldest lad is four years old, was wearing his mask and has no problem with it, thankfully.

Even so, there are certain areas and people for whom this will cause difficulty. One of the groups I have been in contact with - I know some children and families who are part of it - is Our New Ears, ONE, a group that provides support to parents and families of children who use hearing technology, ranging from children who are hard of hearing to deaf children. While they understand the public health guidelines, they are dreading the fact their children will face an additional barrier to communication from a hearing and language perspective. The introduction of masks disproportionately affects their children compared with others.

The Minister referred to an exemption and, as Senator Murphy said, there has been clarification that there will be no need for a medical certificate for an exemption. In case it happens that someone does not want to wear one, I welcome that that is the case, although it does not help kids who have a hearing issue. It will be difficult for them to communicate, lip-read or whatever. ONE has asked me to put a couple of questions to the Minister. Will there be a derogation for classes that include children who are hard of hearing? Could masks be optional, with a pod created for children who have difficulty? It is important they be able to lip-read and communicate with other students. Other questions relate to the reintroduction of contact tracing, Perspex screens and, perhaps, investment in sheltered outdoor spaces. They are small asks but they are needed.All our children are entitled to equal access to education and we must try to provide that access. I ask that these measures be considered. They could be a short-term circuit breaker for the children in question. We should look at different measures to ensure they are able to communicate.

With regard to kids in special education and their parents, early last year we had a situation where all schools were closed. We worked hard with the Minister, Deputy Foley and the Minister of State, Deputy Madigan, to make sure special schools reopened early. There is a fear among parents of children in special schools that this may happen again. I ask the Minister to make clear that no matter what happens going forward, special education will continue. Ireland was probably the only country in the world where schools closed twice. We do not need that to happen a third time.

I have figures from a parents group I work with showing that 80% of children with special educational needs had no access to the July provision in 2021, while 5% had the full four weeks. These children have not caught up on what they missed. It just does not work for children in special schools. In 2019, just 90 children with severe to profound needs, out of 8,000 children in special schools, did the home-based programme. I ask the Minister to send a message to the families in question that under no circumstances will special schools close, no matter what happens. They are unique. Special schools have smaller classrooms with children in pods of a maximum of six.

I also ask the Minister to allocate a minimum percentage of third and fourth-year students in teacher training colleges to special schools to ensure special schools have automatic access to teachers and our kids do not lose out any more.

I ask the Minister to address those two areas. I have a personal knowledge of special education and I highlight those issues. I compliment the Minister and her staff in the Department. It has been a difficult 18 months but I know the Minister has worked hard and worked with the teacher unions and parent groups to make sure education stays open.