Reopening of Schools 2020

Team Cathal July 30, 2020 35

The Department of Education has issued details of the Roadmap for the Reopening of the Primary and Secondary School System:

✅ All schools will reopen at the end of August

✅ Children below third class will not need to maintain social distancing but all other primary school children will sit in pod bubbles

✅ Secondary school students will have to maintain a 1 metre social distance – face masks will be optional but not required

✅ Funding of €375 million has been allocated to assist the plan

✅ Minor Capital Works Budget of €75 million – Grants will be sanctioned for required works

✅ 1,000 additional teaching positions at Post-Primary to reduce class sizes

✅ Additional substitution, supervision, guidance counsellors and psychologists

✅ Additional release days for principals

✅ Enhanced cleaning, hand hygiene and PPE support

✅ Special Needs Assistant Posts will be automatically replaced by the State if an SNA becomes ill