To ask the Minister of Education, further to the statement from the Chief Medical Officer that lockdown restrictions could last into next year, (i) to detail the potential impacts on the remit of his Department of (a) a full lockdown; or (b) more minimal restrictions over this period; and (ii) for his assessment of the statement’s potential impact on vaccine take-up in schools.

A continuation of a full lockdown will have a real impact on both the educational progression of pupils and on the mental health and wellbeing of pupils, young children and education staff. Education practitioners have been clear in their advice that the pandemic has had a significant impact on some pupils’ learning and their mental health has suffered from lack of social contact. A partial relaxation will reduce this impact and I have asked my officials to consider what additional measures should be put in place including an extension of the Engage programme in the next academic year.

Vaccination of vulnerable people is key to moving towards normality and I am keen that all Education sector staff and any vulnerable children avail of the vaccine when it becomes available for them.