The Acting Chief Medical Officer has said we are "absolutely on track for children to go back to school in September".
Dr Ronan Glynn said there were three priorities: to get healthcare services back up and running to the greatest extent possible, protecting the most vulnerable, and getting children back to school.
Speaking at tonight's Department of Health briefing, Dr Glynn said we needed to keep suppressing the virus, and reduce the reproductive rate back to below 1.
He said we could now be "uncertain but optimistic" because of the individual actions being taken by the public.
Dr Glynn said this needed to continue over the next five weeks in order to ensure that children can go back to school.
He said it was too early to make a determination about the reopening of pubs. Those decisions would be made in a couple of weeks' time, he added.
Acting Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn says things are "absolutely on track" for children to return to school in September | More: https://t.co/AS3jev4AlA pic.twitter.com/PgXrkL5n3w
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) July 23, 2020
Earlier, the Tánaiste said there was no reason why Ireland should be the only country in Europe that does not reopen its schools at the end of August.
Speaking during Leaders' Questions in the Dáil, Leo Varadkar said many European countries were worse affected by Covid-19 than Ireland, but they did not close their schools fully.
"It is essential, provided that the virus stays suppressed, that schools open and that parents have that assurance," he said.
"And that children get back to education and get back to their social and educational development, which is so crucial."
However, Mr Varadkar warned that it will not be business as usual.
He urged people "bear with" the Government over the next couple of days or weeks while a plan for reopening schools is put in place.
Mr Varadkar also said he had "every confidence" that teachers will rise to the challenge and make sure schools are open at the beginning of the new school year.
Minister for Education Norma Foley will take questions on the subject in the Dáil next week, he added.
"There is no reason why we shouldn't be able to return to schools opening at the end of August ... but it won't be the same." Tánaiste @LeoVaradkar agrees parents deserve to know how schools will reopen, but says plans must be fully finalised first to avoid mixed messages. pic.twitter.com/Iw1N6jrcYs
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) July 23, 2020
Labour leader Alan Kelly said he was not confident, given what he has seen from the Department of Education, that a full reopening of schools would happen.
He said Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris has announced guidance for third level, which, he said, speaks of a two-metre distance requirement and a maximum of two hours in the classroom and asked where this leaves the reopening of primary and secondary schools.
He said blended learning should not happen in September and schools should be fully reopened.
Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy said there is a sense of panic from parents and although she understood there was an aspiration to reopen schools, "an aspiration will not cut the mustard".
She said many parents have now reached their breaking point.
"I've no doubt there's an aspiration to open schools. But an aspiration will not cut the mustard," Social Democrats co-leader @CathMurphyTD says, noting that classrooms in schools are already tight for space. | https://t.co/XDOIhZhlx1 pic.twitter.com/fFfuFmjW9G
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) July 23, 2020
Sinn Féin's finance spokesperson Pearse Doherty said there has been "delay after delay" in terms of a plan to reopen schools.
He told the Tánaiste that nobody knows what is happening, adding: "I have no idea how my four kids are going back to school, my wife is a teacher, my three sisters are teachers".
Responding, Mr Varadkar said: "We want to get all the details right before we share them widely because what would undermine confidence is to come out with a set of details and plans today and then change them in a weeks' time or ten days’ time."
Mr Doherty said nobody has seen the plan and that former education minister Joe McHugh said there would be a plan by the end of June and that there has been "complete deafness" from Minister Foley, who he said "has said nothing" for the last few weeks.
The Tánaiste said that "while nothing is no risk, the risk that arise from opening schools are low and that's why it should be done", adding, "this is something we have to do as a country, so a lot of work is being done".
Mr Varadkar said there will be "comprehensive communication" with students and parents in advance of reopening so that they are fully informed as to what the new school environment is going to look like.
Ms Murphy said if the Dáil does not sign off on a budget for schools to reopen "we will spend the full month of August with people rightly clamouring for this Dáil to be back to deal with this to get children back to school".
Reporting Maggie Doyle and Aisling Kenny
