Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 to 9, inclusive, together.

The Cabinet committee on education was established by Government decision on 6 July last. The next meeting will take place in September. It will oversee implementation of programme for Government commitments in the area of education. Its membership comprises the Taoiseach; Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment; Minister with responsibility for climate action, communications networks and transport; Minister with responsibility for education; Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform; Minister for Finance; Minister with responsibility for further and higher education, innovation and science; and Minister with responsibility for children, disability, equality and integration. Other Ministers or Ministers of State will participate as required.

In addition to the meetings of the full Cabinet and of Cabinet committees, I meet Ministers on an individual basis to focus on particular issues. I met the Minister for Education and Skills and her team last Friday to discuss the reopening of schools. The Government had met prior to that as well. The Government is committed to ensuring that schools will reopen for the new school year as fully, safely and normally as possible. The Government announced the Roadmap for the Return to Schools yesterday, including a support package of well over €375 million and we are now supporting schools to reopen safely in the coming weeks.

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