Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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159. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he is putting in place contingency plans now for the possible scenario by which children are not able to return to school as normal in late August and September 2020; his views on whether there is a need for these plans to include formal timetabled online lessons by all schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10115/20]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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To assist with the development of contingency plans for the re-opening and operation of schools in an environment that may require social distancing and other public health requirements, my Department is engaging with education partners and relevant stakeholders.

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. The issues raised by the education partners include those referred to by the Deputy in his question.

A core objective of the contingency plans will be to ensure that schools and other education settings can reopen and operate in a safe manner that is consistent with public health advice.

Following consultation, currently underway with the education partners, guidance will issue to schools as soon as possible 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, the context and needs of their staff and students and in compliance with public health guidelines.