Mr. Seán Ó Foghlú:

I will address the first issue the Deputy mentioned. It is set out clearly in the advice that we have from the health authorities that it is vital that we change the culture in respect of attendance by students and staff such that they do not push themselves to attend school when they are showing any of the symptoms. That is a change of behaviour that will be necessary. Also, it is necessary that the hygiene arrangements are available when they come in. The guidance from the health sector, which we will translate further for schools, will also set out the arrangements that will need to be put in place should anybody fall ill during school time or should it turn out later that somebody who was in a school had Covid. We will have to work through how we will handle all of those issues.

I do not think it is a question of liability per se. The school themselves have their own insurance. There is a wide range of school insurance arrangements in place across the various school sectors. It is not a matter of liability for insurance. I do not fully understand the Deputy's question about liability. Liability for what? Schools have their own insurance and some schools have State insurance in the community and comprehensive sector.