Dr Paul Davis

So we have to think about, well, how do we actually overcome that?

Primary education, we knew and still know from COVID that it is better to have a physical presence.

So we don't want to sacrifice that because both educationally and socially, it's regressive if we actually move away from a physical presence.

Secondary education, though, presents a little bit more flexibility.

And third level definitely presents flexibility.

I understand that, but I mean, look, we've got to be realistic here.

If when we take, and let's take third level as a really good example of it,

When we take third level students, we're finding students that our attendance rates are lower.

We're finding that they have large commutes to attend lectures that could be delivered remotely.

And we're also finding that accommodation is unavailable.

So moving to a hybrid learning model, an online learning model with cohorts of students is actually a practical step.

There is a financial implication for universities as well and we need to understand that.

The cost of energy and heating buildings is enormous and that cost of energy is not decreasing, it's increasing.

And many of the universities are facing financial crisis.

We've seen it in the UK and we've seen it even in the north of Ireland where I think only last week University of Ulster announced 450 redundancies.

We've got to find a balance to get this right.

I'm not arguing that education needs to move fully online, but I am arguing that this is the moment that we can plan for it.

So at least people are given advance notice as to what we're thinking of doing rather than waiting until we get to October, November and suddenly finding we are facing a crisis and then impacting students and parents with short term solutions to something that can be planned for now.

Absolutely.

You've got to look at it.