I raise with the Taoiseach Claremorris Boys' National School, which has had 16 confirmed Covid-19 cases. On Monday, out of 85 pupils due in, only seven turned up. The Department and the Minister's handling of the challenges presented by Covid-19 in that school is wholly unacceptable. I commend the huge collective effort by the board of management, the principal and teachers, the parents' association and the parents in ensuring the health and well-being of the children in the Claremorris area.

Nobody disputes the public health advice but removing the collective autonomy of all the local decision-makers without proper consultation is not acceptable. The heavy-handed approach by the Department must be replaced with local and effective engagement. There is no other way to deal with this matter in a meaningful way. The people of Claremorris deserve better.

The effectiveness of the interface between the HSE and the Department must be examined. The anxiety levels of the children in Claremorris is having an impact on their health and well-being. Is there a better way to do this?

The public health team had not recommended that the school should close. There must be a system. We have all deferred to public health advice. There is and should be local engagement between principals and public health personnel, and that improved in particular after the Hallowe'en break when the Minister with the HSE implemented a new system to bring about closer collaboration between principals and public health teams.

We must ultimately defer to public health guidelines. We will continue to engage as cases like this emerge and re-evaluate how advice is given. We cannot have a position where every school will make its own decision. Nationally, and from a societal perspective, we want our schools open and children back in school safely. We will evaluate what has happened here and if protocols must be amended or refined, that is fine. The public health personnel had not recommended that the school should close.