Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 November 2020
235. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Education the engagement she has had with her Northern Irish counterpart on cross-Border approaches to the Covid-19 pandemic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37712/20]
View answerI met with the Northern Ireland Minister for Education, Peter Weir on two occasions.
The first meeting took place on 31st July 2020 on the margins of the North-South Ministerial Council Plenary meeting in Dublin Castle, where we exchanged some initial views and shared policies in respect of planning for school re-openings for the 2020/ 2021 school year.
More recently, on 6th November 2020, I met again with Minister Weir as part of the Education Sectorial meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council. Again, we shared views on the experiences of school re-openings and the importance of pupil re-engagement with their learning. We also committed to convene a meeting of senior officials, along with agencies/bodies with responsibility in vital support areas, and report findings to the next NSMC meeting in this sector.
In addition, officials in my Department are also in regular contact with their Northern counterparts on a range of issues, including the issue of responding to the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic.
