Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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255. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps he is taking to prioritise the completion of school construction projects in advance of September 2020 to assist with the Covid-19 social distancing rules; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7906/20]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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The construction sector is re-opening on a gradual and phased basis since Monday 18^thMay. It will take time to remobilise and see impact of new working arrangements. It is therefore too early to speculate on how timelines of projects will be impacted as a result of COVID-19 working arrangements. My Department is engaging with School Patrons and relevant schools in relation to necessary school accommodation provision for the 2020/21 school year in light of any impact of COVID-19 on project delivery timescales and develop and implement contingency arrangements as required. Planning and preparatory work is well advanced in this regard.

On the 1^stMay 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 currently working with the Education Partners and relevant stakeholders in planning for this re-opening which will be based on public health advice. 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.

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.