Government announces €375m plan to reopen schools next month

Schools are set to reopen by the end of August.

The government announced this week that a €375m plan is in place to make schools safe to open next month. Irish schools, which have been closed since March, are set to reopen next month with new safety measures in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

A range of measures were unveiled following a Cabinet meeting at Dublin Castle earlier this week. Among these measures is funding for more than 1,000 additional secondary school teachers, "enhanced cleaning and hand hygiene" supports and classroom "bubbles" for primary schools. Schools will also receive PPE. LGBT teachers sometimes feel 'unwelcome and isolated' in schools, says union

LGBT teachers sometimes feel 'unwelcome and isolated' in schools, says union

Minister for Education Norma Foley explained that at primary school level each classroom will be seen as a bubble with a series of smaller pods where children will work together continuously with a metre between each pod. While this new measure is set to be implemented in all primary schools physical distancing will not be required for pupils below third class. At second level, Minister Foley said a €75m building works package will be used to alter buildings and classrooms to ensure one-metre physical distancing. Calls for schools to open on Saturdays to make up for lost days

Calls for schools to open on Saturdays to make up for lost days

According to RTE Minister Foley said that she does not see any reason why the planned school reopening would be delayed. Last week Taoiseach Micheál Martin finally confirmed the reopening of schools after months of uncertainty for parents and students.