Eamon Ryan has said he expects "our schools, creches and colleges to open" as normal.
The Transport Minister believes that schools will be able to open next Thursday as expected - but he did concede that rules around close contacts may have to be changed to keep staff levels high enough to keep them open.
The Green Party Leader told RTE Radio 1: "I expect, firstly, our schools, creches and colleges to open.
"I think it's really important. The public benefit of that, the loss if we don't have our children back in school in my mind is much larger than any other measure.
"I think what we should do and will do is look at the likes of the measures that the US have introduced.
"Their Centre for Disease Control, recognising that that is an issue, have adapted some of their measures around close contacts.
"I think what we want to do is to look at what the international evidence is and what evidence they call on to see could similar measures help here.
"But first and foremost when it comes to schools, and I think it's important that schools do open on Thursday (6 January).
"Each school will have different circumstances, it'll be more difficult for primary rather than secondary because it's more difficult, particularly for a smaller school, to get a relief teacher in.
"But I think what our schools have done very well is manage through Covid.
"I don't think the solution should be shutting down schools."
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