The ability of schools to function well is a priority for us all. However, pretending there are no problems helps no one. Three weeks ago, I asked the Government to introduce a revised form of contact tracing. That is still not in place. We also have an extremely serious substitution crisis, which is debilitating schools. One principal gave an example of 11 rejections from the substitute seeker programme in nine days. Principals are cancelling board of management meetings and continuous professional development training. All the local solutions that are being talked about have been exhausted by principals. There are other options. Banked hours can be reinstated, lengthy block booking of substitutes can be discouraged and panels can be extended to the whole country. Does the Taoiseach accept there is a crisis in substitution in schools - that is my primary question - and what actions will the Government take to resolve it?

First, in regard to Covid-19 and schools, we have followed public health advice from the very beginning. I do not know whether the Deputy and other Deputies are suggesting we should suspend that approach. Deputies and public representatives seem to be assuming upon themselves the role of public health advisers in regard to schools.

Come on now, Taoiseach, in all fairness.

Hold on a second, Deputy. I am not finished yet.

This is important.

It is very important.

We have given the Government a lot of space and worked with it on schools. Be serious now, Taoiseach, and answer the question.

Deputy, please resume your seat.

Show some respect for the support you have got from all parties on schools. That support is a fact.

What support? The Deputy's party has been the most divisive party in regard to Covid-19 for the past 12 months.

Resume your seat, Deputy.

You have been opportunistic.

Talk to the Minister, Deputy Foley.

I am not talking about the Deputy personally; I am talking about his party. You have been opportunistic, divisive and you have played it on both sides all along.

On education and schools, the cross-party support has been enormous.

You have not even allowed me to finish replying to you.

You are answering a question you picked yourself. It was not the question I asked. I asked about substitution.

You mentioned two things, Covid and substitution, and I was going to deal with both of them, if you had the good manners to wait and get the reply.

You are not one to be citing manners.

The bottom line is this: on Covid-19, I will say once again that we have adhered to public health advice. If you want us to jettison public health advice, have the guts to say it and stop trying to hide behind blaming the Government.

On the second issue, of course there is a challenge in regard to substitution. The Minister has put in place a range of measures and significant and substantive resources have been made available to schools and principals in respect of substitution. The Minister is open to doing everything possible to alleviate the pressures on principals in respect of substitution.