Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Dublin Bay North, Labour)
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70. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to ensure school principals with teaching hours have the flexibility and support to discharge the additional burden which will placed on them due to Covid-19 protocols. [19321/20]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware that my Department published the report “Reopening Our Schools, The Roadmap for the Full Return to School” earlier in the week which is available on my Department's website.

This Roadmap set outs how schools will fully reopen for all students from the end of August, and what the operation of our schools will look like and be sustainable in a COVID-19 context.  It has been developed in line with public health advice issued by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC), the Roadmap for Society and Business, and follows comprehensive and intensive engagement with education stakeholders including the school management bodies and staff representatives.

€10.2m has been allocated to support Principals and Deputy Principals who also undertake teaching duties in primary schools.  This funding will provide each teaching principal with one release day per week, and release days for Deputy Principals in those schools that have an existing administrative principal.  Details on these arrangements are set out in Circular 45/2020, Operational Supports for Primary Schools for the Full Return to School.