Health Minister Simon Harris has said education officials are still working on having the Leaving Cert go ahead this summer, despite continuing school closures.
The current plan is for the Leaving Cert exams to begin on Wednesday July 29th, having been postponed from their usual June schedule due to the coronavirus crisis.
However, the roadmap for reopening the country published by the Government today shows that schools are not expected to reopen until September.
While the reopening of school and college buildings for "access by teachers for organisation and distribution of remote learning" is expected to take place from March 18th, students are not expected to return to school buildings until the new school year.
A Department of Education spokesperson says it's still hoped to bring just Leaving Cert students back in July, "subject to adequate planning and public health advice”.
Department of Education spokesperson says “It is still hoped to bring just #LeavingCert students back in July, subject to adequate planning and public health advice”
The Taoiseach announced tonight schools won’t re-open until September #COVID19— Stephen Murphy (@StephenMNews) May 1, 2020
Speaking this evening, Minister Harris said Education Minister Joe McHugh would still like the State exams to proceed in July.
The Health Minister said: "[Minister McHugh] has also made it clear he’d like to see a degree of class time in advance of those exams happening.
“It will be a matter for the Minister for Education to factor in how best to get Leaving Cert students in.
“Schools won’t be coming back for the general population until the new academic year… but the minister plans to arrange for the Leaving Cert to proceed.”
Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan said education officials are working to find a way for the Leaving Cert to go ahead while following the public health advice - but other school students are not likely to return until September.
He observed: “I know already schools… have put in place innovative ways of continuing to maintain education for school students, while maintaining social distancing.
“We don’t envisage a circumstance in which any other student will be in the school environment between now and the end of this term."
It comes as Dublin City University warns that new first year students are unlikely to begin university until 'November at the earliest' due to the delayed Leaving Cert.
However, it says it's planning for continuing students and postgraduates to return to campus in early October.
