The Taoiseach has said there will be challenges along the way as country’s children return to school.

Hundreds of thousands of students and teachers are going back to education this week; however there has already been controversy over opening plans.

St Leo’s College in County Carlow has faced criticism for holding a prayer assembly with 152 students in the same room yesterday.

They were distanced one-metre apart; however, the ASTI has described the gathering as unwise and ill advised.

Meanwhile, Clonbonny National School near Athlone is under the spotlight after it emerged it was planning to use a garden shed as a COVID-19 isolation room.

After images of the shed went viral, the school said it had no choice but to use the shed due to a lack of extra space for COVID infrastructure.

An Taoiseach @MichealMartinTD and Minister for @Education_Ire, @NormaFoleyTD1 visited Scoil Fiachra National School today, where they undertook a tour of the school to view pre-opening special arrangements now in place. pic.twitter.com/9bqSKuGt4E

— MerrionStreet.ie #StaySafe #HoldFirm (@merrionstreet) August 26, 2020

Speaking at Scoil Fiachra National School in Dublin today, the Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the reopening will be “challenging” in the coming weeks.

“There will be lots of challenges along the way but we will learn along that journey,” he said.

“We will pick things up along the way, refine, improve and make sure that the safety of children and all who work in our school environment is uppermost.”

The Taoiseach Micheál Martin at Scoil Fiachra Junior National School with Principal Áine Carberry, 26-08-2020. Image: Julien Behal

St Fiachra’s principle Aine Carberry said staff have put in a huge amount of work getting ready for the official reopening next Monday.

She said everything is now in place for students to return safely and staff to feel safe coming in.

“We had to organise the car park and organise new entrances for the children,” she said.

“Our signage, there was a lot of work involved getting our hand sanitiser, procuring all the resources we need to open schools safely but we have done that.

“We have had an amazing team that has worked really hard and we are really looking forward to welcoming children back.

“It has been a really long time.”

The Taoiseach Micheál Martin with the Education Minister Norma Foley at Scoil Fiachra National School with Principal Kieran Creaner, 26-08-2020. Image: Julien Behal

Meanwhile, the Irish National Teachers Organisation has said it has asked the Department of Education to examine the lack of space for isolation rooms in many schools.

“The INTO has raised the issue of the overcrowded nature of many of our schools and the resultant lack of space for isolation rooms and asked for this to be addressed,” it said.

It said principals and teachers have been “working hard, through difficult times with the resources available” to reopen schools safely.

Reporting from Kim Buckley