TAOISEACH Leo Varadkar has set out a plan for Ireland to start to reopen over 15 weeks from May 18 but until then most of the current restrictions will remain in place. But he explained why the decision has been taken to leave most of the current restrictions in place. It means the only students who may return to classrooms in the next few months will be Leaving Cert candidates. “Planning for the Leaving Cert is still being discussed, including through the Advisory Group set up by the Department involving education stakeholders,” the spokesman said. The party's education spokesperson Thomas Byrne said: "Given that the Leaving Cert is not mentioned in the road map published this evening and schools aren't opening till autumn and given the preparations are not in place to have a fair Leaving Cert, I'm fully convinced the Leaving Cert should not take place.

Source: Irish Independent May 01, 2020 19:05 UTC