The Education Minister has told the cabinet she's planning for a phased return to school for all students next month.
March 1st has been set as a target date, but opposition politicians are sceptical that's achievable.
Norma Foley wants schools to reopen March 1. What guarantees can she give to students and teachers that this will be safe? #noschooluntilsafeschool #canceltheleavingcert2021 #openaccess3rdlevel
— Mick Barry TD (@MickBarryTD) February 16, 2021
As well as that, the date has yet to be agreed with teaching unions with talks ongoing.
Labour's Education Spokesman Aodhan O'Riordain says he's not convinced it will be March 1st.
"I hope that she's correct but I heard a different date yesterday."
He said also said the reopening of schools must be looked at in a winder context.
"We cannot divorce the school reopening discussion from the wider discussion of the suppression of the virus."
Education Spokesman for the Social Democrats Gary Gannon says dates are not the right deadlines.
"I think we've all been let down by dates."
We need to bring clarity to students around the leaving cert, as soon as possible.
We need a taskforce, expert led and involving students, to deal with the many issues facing young people which have arisen.@GaryGannonTD pic.twitter.com/LjNHEPLaui— Social Democrats (@SocDems) February 16, 2021
"We give a date and then we don't meet that date."
The Dublin Central TD said he'd rather see a metric that would point to "a certain level [of cases] that schools can reopen".
"For me, it would give much more certainty."
Cabinet was also updated on the talks around this year's Leaving Cert with it hoped a resolution will be reached later this week.
Feelings on the Leaving Cert, it doesn't feel real anymore tbh ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ pic.twitter.com/ny0jQcNsSe
— Sofía ✨ (@so_uh0) February 16, 2021
While cabinet also approved legislation for mandatory hotel quarantine for people arriving to Ireland from certain countries, which will go before the Dáil on Thursday.
