It was confirmed this morning during a meeting between Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Minister for Education Norma Foley, that schools will officially and fully re-open their doors by the end of August.
A plan on the safe return to the classroom is being published on Monday after Ministers agree on it at a Cabinet meeting.
The Taoiseach commented: “We have a very comprehensive set of measures that will enable schools to open fully but also in a resilient and robust way,”
Ms Foley said schools will be back to normal for the new term: “The objective is a full reopening of the schools. All students on campus, all teachers on campus.”
The re-opening of schools plan will see tens of millions of euro funding to support the structural alterations needed in classrooms and to improve bathrooms for hand-washing, as well as daily cleaning and hygiene routines, according to The Irish Times.
Subsequent to practical alterations , the plan will also include steps to ensure enhanced supervision and additional substitute staff employed to cover an expected increase in teacher absences due to official government guidance that states teachers with any symptoms should stay away from the classroom.
Covid-19 has resulted in the vast majority of people working from home, and with schools being closed since the 12th of March, parents have been left struggling with work-life balance.
Hopefully, this slight resumption to reality will see parental pressures eased and a return to a more positive work and home environment.
