The Minister for Education has said a lot of students have suffered “massive regression” while schools have been shut down.

Joe McHugh was speaking after a new Government report found that the two-metre rule would only allow most primary school children to attend class one day a week.

It found that most secondary school students could only attend twice a week if the rule remains as it is.

As the result the Department of Education is now looking for safe ways to reopening schools without strict social distancing rules.

On The Hard Shoulder this evening, Minister McHugh said a part-time return would leave many students behind.

“The stark reality of a half-time return to schools is that it is just not practical,” he said.

“We have evidence of massive regression in a lot of students over the last number of months – whether that is motor or social or even regression in numeracy and language for some students with special educational needs.”

He said health officials would now consider what safety measures can be put in place to allow schools to fully reopen in August.

Minister McHugh said officials would take a “common sense approach” and look to build tailored solutions for primary and secondary schools.

Officials preparing the guidelines are keeping one eye on the potential for a spike in the virus in the autumn.

Minister McHugh said schools will not shut down as soon as a confirmed case is diagnosed. He said the new protocols would include a “specific response to particular incidents as they arise.”

The guidelines will be published at the end of this month.