Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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271. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he has had discussions with the outdoor adventure and activity centre sector (details supplied) in view of the cancellation of most activities and events in adventure centres in 2020 to ensure they survive the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic; if he has considered providing a deposit guarantee to the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9179/20]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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Decisions in relation to school trips are a matter for school authorities and any queries or concerns that providers have regarding deposits for specific school trips should be raised with the school authority concerned.  Funding is not provided by the Department for school trips.

My colleague the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation has announced a range of measures designed to support businesses through this very difficult period. The Deputy may wish to contact that Department for information on which of these measures could assist small businesses such as those in the outdoor activity and adventure centre sector.

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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272. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when guidelines will be provided for the reopening of schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9190/20]

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 and all decisions on how schools are to safely re-open and operate will be consistent with 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

Guidance will issue to schools on the logistical and curricular arrangements to be put in place to facilitate the phased re-opening of schools. This guidance will provide a framework for individual schools to develop plans for the re-opening of school in accordance with their own circumstances and context and the needs of their staff and students.