Schools and level 5 debate
Deputy Gannon called for a substantial debate on the move to level 5 restrictions and on schools reopening, citing public anxiety and a reported warning from the Education Minister. The Taoiseach disputed the reported school claim and said schools were being kept open safely.
I would like to add our voice to the suggestion that we need a debate on the move to level 5 restrictions. It is essential that we have such a debate. Hopefully, it will be conducted in a substantial and collaborative way but we need to have our concerns on the record.
We also need a debate on our schools. Massive anxiety was created yesterday when the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Foley, highlighted the fact that schools may not be able to reopen. We need a discussion about that. It was reported in the media yesterday.
Comment on this
I wrote to the Business Committee last week to ask if we could have a discussion about schools and it was suggested that could happen in a couple of weeks. That needs to happen this week.