Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The issue the Deputy has raised is the specific case of parents or family members who are categorised as being at high risk. I absolutely appreciate the difficulties, the trauma and the worry for people who are in a situation of that nature. However my suggestion would be - and it is appropriate - that they would take guidance from their GP and discuss it in a medical context. The advice that is being made available to us is that child-to-child transmission and child-to-adult transmission of Covid-19 is very low.

As we are aware, studies have shown that students who have been out of school since 12 March need the opportunity to return to school. This is necessary not just from an educational point of view but from a socialisation one and we must recognise that within the system as well. As I have said, where there is anxiety, a GP should be consulted in the first instance and there should be a medical decision made around that. In the second instance, there are well-being resources available for parents and for students who might have particular concerns around the issues the Deputy has raised. As such, we cannot take a blanket approach with this because each set of circumstances is unique and individual to the persons concerned but in the main, this is where we stand.