Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 10 March 2021
514. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education if she will provide a full list of participating organisations, unions and advocacy groups that contributed to talks held to get agreement on the reopening of special schools, special classes and also the general reopening of education for children and young persons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12945/21]
View answerMy Department has had Intensive engagement and input from education partners representing parents, students, unions, management bodies and principal networks on all aspects of the plan for the phased reopening of schools. These engagements are ongoing and are focussing on the safe return of all remaining cohorts of pupils and students to school at the earliest opportunity in March, with the last group of post primary students set to return to school after the Easter Break.
A full list of Stakeholders at post primary include the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals, Association of Community and Comprehensive Schools, Joint Managerial Body Education and Educational Training Boards Ireland and the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland, Teachers Union Ireland, Irish Second Level Students Union, and the National Parents Council Post Primary.
Engagement with primary bodies included the National Parents Council, the Catholic Primary School Management Association, Church of Ireland Board of Education, National Association of Board of Management in Special Education, An Foras Pátrúnacha, Educate Together, Muslim Primary Education Board, Education and Training Boards Ireland, Irish National Teachers Organisation, Fórsa and the Irish Primary Principals Network.
There was also engagement with individual parents, schools and advocacy groups including AsIAm, Down Syndrome Ireland, Inclusions Ireland, Family Carers Ireland, LEAP Ireland, the Ombudsman for Children, and the Disability Federation of Ireland, among others.
My Department also had ongoing engagements with the Department of Health, HSE, and Department of Public Health HSE.
