Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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142. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he has reviewed the recent advice considerations for school-related public health measures in the context of Covid-19 by the WHO; the implications of this advice in the Irish context for preparations for the reopening of schools in September 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7192/20]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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On the 1 May 2020, the Taoiseach announced as part of the "Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business" that schools will commence opening on a phased basis at the beginning of the 2020/2021 academic year.

My Department is engaging and working with the education partners and relevant stakeholders on planning arrangements for the re-opening of schools in accordance with the timeframe outlined in the roadmap. As part of this engagement, each of the education partners were given the opportunity to outline the key issues that they would like to have considered in the context of re-opening schools.

These will now be worked through in detail as part of the development of the roadmap for reopening schools. This work will also be informed by guidance and experience from other jurisdictions and from advice published by international bodies such as the World Health Organisation and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).

A core objective will be to ensure that schools and other education settings can re-open and operate in a safe manner that is consistent with public health advice.