Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We have learnt a lot about this virus over recent months, things we did not know back in March when the schools were closed. One thing we have seen from other parts of Europe and across the world is that while nothing is no risk, the risks that arise from opening schools are low. This is why it should be done. Countries that have a higher incidence of the virus than Ireland and suffered worse than us in this pandemic did not close their schools fully. The schools north of the Border, for example, were never closed fully. In other places such as Germany, which has a higher incidence of the virus than us, the schools reopened in June. This is something we have to do as a country and as a society. It would reflect very badly on us if our schools were the only schools in Europe not to be open in September. A lot of work is being done on this by the Minister for Education and Skills and by the Department with the education partners. I do not want to give detailed answers to questions only for those answers to change in a few days or a few weeks. This is still evolving.

It is not true to say there is no information out there. The interim public health advice from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre, HPSC, has already been published. That is the public health advice on what needs to be done in schools to make sure they can open in a safe way. There is a lot of stakeholder engagement happening at the moment, which is also crucial.

On uniforms, the Department has received interim public health advice for educational settings provided by the HPSC. This advice focuses on keeping Covid-19 out of the schools and control measures to minimise the spread if it is introduced into schools. There is emphasis on hand and respiratory hygiene and on physical distancing measures. No issues from a public health perspective have been raised regarding children wearing school uniforms. The normal policy for each school for the wearing of uniforms will remain a matter for each school and its board of management. There is no public health reason for any change of policy on uniforms. As is always the case, and as was the case before Covid-19, that is a decision for boards of management.

See this speech in context