Taoiseach Micheál Martin has hinted that schools may not reopen at the end of the month due to the high level of community transmission of Covid-19.
Mr Martin said he didn’t want to pre-empt the Cabinet decision on Tuesday, but said Education Minister Norma Foley is focusing on getting special schools reopened for children with additional needs.
Mr Martin said that there is “no talk” at the moment in terms of relaxing Level Five restrictions and suggested current restrictions would remain in place for another four weeks.
He said: “That includes all areas, but in the school situation, it’s always been classed as an essential service.
“But essentially, the Minister for Education – and I met with the Minister for Education and her officials this morning, with my officials, to take stock – they are continuing to work, the Minister is, with the partners in education.
“They all still share an objective, a combined objective, to make provision for children with special needs as soon as that’s possible.
“That work is ongoing.
“On the wider schools issue, that issue will be discussed by the Cabinet committee on Monday, and we’ll await the input of ministers and the other party leaders on that.”
Pushed on whether there is any chance of schools reopening on February 1, Mr Martin told reporters: “As I say: I really don’t want to pre-empt the Cabinet Committee meeting on Monday, but clearly community transmission levels are very high.
"The focus right now, and the attention of the Minister for Education, is on special schools and special education, working with the partners in education to see if we can develop a proposal around special education provision.”
