Updated / Thursday, 31 Dec 2020
21:09
Norma Foley said the move was an attempt to control movement in the wider community (File pic)
The Minister for Education has said it is the Government s firm intention to reopen schools on 11 January.
Norma Foley told RTÉ s News at One programme that giving schools an extra two or three days holidays affords families and society an opportunity to ensure their contacts are minimised before children go back to school.
Ms Foley said that delaying the reopening was not recommended by the National Public Health Emergency Team.
She said the move was an attempt to control movement in the wider community and that it is about encouraging society to take on board the new restrictions and associated behaviours.
Sharp criticism that childcare facilities or créches won t be delayed reopening like schools Published: Thursday, 31 December 2020 12:34
Early Childhood Ireland has sharply criticised the move by Government to treat early years and childcare providers differently to schools in the latest Covid-19 measures, announced last night.
The organisation – which has 3,800 members nationwide, supporting over 100,000 children and their families – said it was deeply unhelpful to separate out crèches and childcare facilities from the wider education system.
Schools are to remain closed until 11 January under the revised plans agreed by Cabinet. Primary and secondary schools had been due to reopen on Wednesday 6 January.