Mr. Seán Ó Foghlú:

On after-school care, I might even move into the issue of mornings as well. The advice we have from the health authorities covers these areas as well. It also will be part of the guidance that we issue because it will have to follow the same general arrangements within the school. There is a particular importance attaching to breakfast clubs, after-school clubs etc., especially for children who are disadvantaged, and equally, the provision of school meals, which is the responsibility of our colleagues in the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection. However, that is part of all that has to be done within the role of the school in the community as a whole. We will be covering that advice. Indeed, as part of the changes with the current Government, the Department of Education and Skills is taking responsibility for education welfare and will have responsibility for school completion etc., going forward.

In relation to lockers, that is a challenging issue because we are trying to maximise space. That is part of the discussions that we are having with our colleagues in the partner bodies. The use of lockers is something that creates congregation and we have to be careful about that. We also have to be careful that we have the spaces in the corridors for social distancing because the distancing issue applies within and without the classroom. It is important that the children are as far apart as is practicable outside of the classroom. We recognise there will be a challenge in relation to schoolbooks and so on because there may not be the same locker space available but that is one of the issues that we are working through with the stakeholders.