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

Time flies. Getting back to business, the Whip informs me that the Minister, Deputy Foley, will be in the Dáil next week to answer questions, will answer questions on this matter, and will be happy to do so. In my view, if one looks at this rationally, the shops are open, hotels and restaurants are open, hairdressers and barbers are open. The Dáil, albeit in unusual circumstances, is open and functioning. Many countries in Europe that suffered from Covid-19 worse than us did not close their schools fully at all. Many places that suffered worse than Ireland and had higher incidences than ours now, opened their schools in June. There is no good reason Ireland should be the only country in Europe that does not have its schools open at the end of August for the start of the academic year. That is what we are working towards and that is the Government's plan.

It will not, however, be business as usual. There will be a new normal, or at least a new normal for a while. We will have to make changes. Everyone appreciates and understands that, be it adaptions to the school buildings, cleaning schedules or how classes are organised and children are kept separated in smaller groups and pods. This work needs to be done and completed, but the Minister, the Department and all the education partners are working really hard on it. It is essential, provided the virus stays suppressed, that schools open, that parents have that assurance and that children get back to education and their social and educational development, which is so crucial.

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