School reopening plan
Deputy Ó Laoghaire criticises the pace of planning for schools to reopen and asks what the plan is. The Taoiseach says the Department has engaged widely with stakeholders, that reopening is a priority, and cites Wales and Scotland as examples being watched.
On page 113, the programme for Government refers to outlining preparations for post-Covid-19 education and the return to school. The Taoiseach has just said that it is the number one priority. Parents, however, were absolutely aghast at the interview given by the Minister for Education and Skills to the Sunday Independent because there was scarcely any answer at all in the interview.
It is 15 July, it is four months since schools closed and it is about six weeks until schools reopen. Consultations only began in mid to late May. We were promised a roadmap a month ago.
That seems to have completely fallen off the agenda. Parents are at a loss. Many are very concerned and unbelievably frustrated. They want to know whether their children will be back for three, four or five days per week. They want to know whether they will have to wear masks on buses. They want to know how many children will be in each pod. They want to know whether schools will get extra funding, resources and teachers. All those questions are unanswered at this stage. Time is running out. It is not good enough. Of all Departments, the Department of Education and Skills has been the most slack in the Covid-19 context. Parents and teachers are frustrated.
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Special needs assistants should be included as well.
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There has been comprehensive engagement by the Minister and the Department - the Minister in particular - with the stakeholders involved in education with a view to facilitating the reopening of schools at the end of August. It is something to which I am personally very committed. As I have said repeatedly in the House, the reopening of schools is important for the development of the child and it is something I want to see happening. This has wider implications for the wider Covid-19 issue and the continued suppression of the virus. The Government will be considering the NPHET advice this evening in the context of the objective of getting schools open again towards the end of August.
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What is the plan? When will it happen?
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It may interest the Deputy to know that I spoke to the Welsh First Minister last week. In Wales schools have been open for the past three weeks - they have a later session - and this has worked far better for them than they had anticipated. My understanding is that schools in Scotland will be reopening on 11 August. We are learning lessons from other countries.