Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I will take it that the Tánaiste's comments about the Minister coming into the House to answer questions are not the oral parliamentary questions she is due to take on Thursday, and that this will be a separate questions and answers slot on the reopening of schools. In fairness, I believe that everyone in the House feels this is necessary. Will the Tánaiste please verify that?

The precedent set by the Minister, Deputy Harris, with regard to 2 m and classroom sizes has been set. Workers, teachers and people who work in the third level sector cannot be treated differently. If there are issues around how long a person can spend inside rooms, and obviously there is the 2 m issue, I just do not know how schools can reopen fully. I would like the Tánaiste to answer this question. How can they reopen fully? I have looked at the preparation for this. An education Estimate will have to be brought in because changes will be needed, and very soon, given the amount of money being spent. I noted, and this is just one example of a lack of planning, that the Department issued a request for information on personal protective equipment, PPE, with a deadline of 24 June, but no tender has gone out for educational supplies of PPE in Ireland. No matter what way we approach the reopening of schools we will need PPE. This lack of planning does not breed confidence that the schools will actually reopen fully. How will it be done with the precedent set by the Minister, Deputy Harris? Will the Tánaiste guarantee that the Minister for Education and Skills will come into the House to answer questions specific to the reopening of schools?

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