Government will make “right decision” on schools

Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has indicated that schools will only remain open if they do not causes a significant spike in Covid-19 cases.

Speaking on Morning Ireland this morning the Fine Gael leader said the return to school is dependent on downward trends in Covid-19 infections.

Tánaiste Varadkar said the Government would not hesitate to make “the right decision” if the reopening of schools presented an increase in infections.

The Tánaiste pointed pout that there was not a huge increase in cases when schools were opened last September.

He reiterated the point made yesterday by Taoiseach Micheál Martin that the the new B117 variant, first detected in Britain, poses additional problems because its transmissibility .

Yesterday the Taoiseach outlined the phased return to school as part of the Government's revised plan for dealing with the virus.

The plan sees Leaving Certificate students returning to school on March1, along with primary school children from junior infants to second class.

The remaining primary school students and fifth year secondary school students will be back in class on March 15 subject to reviews. All other secondary school students will go back to school on April 12, after the Easter holidays