Maria Byrne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for coming to the Seanad for this very important debate. I compliment her and all the officials who have worked so hard over the past 18 months, which has been a challenging time. The Department is dealing with many schools with different issues, so it is certainly not an easy task.

There needs to be communication. I know the Minister has had a lot of communication but sometimes teachers feel they have not been consulted enough. She has been working with the unions. It would be useful if a regular communication could issue to teachers giving them updates.

All Members have received calls about mask wearing. I was talking to some nine-year-olds and ten-year-olds about this and they said they were wearing masks in any event because they were afraid of getting the virus. They did not have an issue wearing masks in school. While some people believe mask wearing by this group is not right, we, as legislators, and the Minister can suggest that it is necessary for people's health and safety. Individual schools will deal with the issue and if there is a medical issue with a child, the parents should speak to the school management or principal to sort out whatever the issue is. Mask wearing will not be suitable for all.

My colleague, Senator Dolan, called for antigen tests to be given out en masseto schools. I support that call because if schools have tests on site and somebody is feeling unwell, they can use them rather than waiting for the tests to be posted out. Perhaps each school should be sent a certain number of tests. That could be a recommendation.

Senator Cummins raised with the Minister for Health last night the people who got the one-shot vaccine. Many teachers are in that category. Many in the younger age group got the one-shot Janssen vaccine and some of them feel vulnerable. Will they be prioritised for booster vaccines? The evidence shows a high transmission rate between students in schools. Teachers should be prioritised for the booster vaccine, especially those who were given a one-shot vaccine. I ask the Ministers for Education and Health to consider that idea.

I am a firm believer that children should continue to play sport. People have been asked to reduce their children's social contacts, especially coming up to Christmas. When children are running around outside in the fresh air it is good for their well-being. The Minister mentioned well-being. Children need a connection with their peers and friends for their mental health. When sport is organised in a school there are also supervisors. Perhaps this issue could be looked at.

I compliment the Minister and wish her all the best. I welcome her statement that she will keep the decision on mask wearing under review. If she needs to make further changes, I hope the Minister will come back to the Seanad to discuss them. It is a very difficult situation but the Minister and her officials are doing a good job under the circumstances.