Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 May 2020
154. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the recent statement that the reopening of schools is one of the safest things that can be done; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7231/20]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that decisions in relation to schools re-opening and operating will be underpinned by the ongoing public health advice of the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) and the Department of Health.
On the 1 May 2020, the Taoiseach announced as part of the "Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business" that schools will commence opening on a phased basis at the beginning of the 2020/2021 academic year.
My Department is engaging and working with the education partners and relevant stakeholders on planning arrangements for the re-opening of schools in accordance with the timeframe outlined in the roadmap and all decisions on how schools are to safely re-open and operate will be consistent with public health advice.
As part of this engagement, each of the education partners were given the opportunity to outline the key issues that they would like to have considered in the context of re-opening schools.
These will now be worked through in detail as part of the development of the roadmap for re-opening schools. This work will also be informed by guidance and experience from other jurisdictions and from advice published by international bodies such as the World Health Organisation and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).
