All schools are expected to begin reopening next month.

Parents will be asked to sign a "Covid form" when their children return to school. According to reports, the infectious disease form will ask parents to declare whether their child has contracted or been exposed to any diseases like Covid-19. The Irish Times reports that new guidelines are expected to be introduced ahead of the phased return of all schools starting in March. These include Covid-19 forms, keeping children with symptoms at home, and deterring against congregating outside the school gates. Teachers will be advised to keep windows partially open all day and fully open at break times and after classes. Schools will be urged to check boiler temperatures regularly to “maximise the available heat to the school." The draft framework comes in the wake of the new UK Covid variant which could pose a threat to the current plan to reopen schools across March.  According to RTÉ, Minister for Education Norma Foley told Cabinet yesterday that it is her "strong preference" that all students return to their classes over the course of next month. It is understood that students with additional needs and Leaving Certificate students will be the top priority in any return to school. After that, at primary level, priority is likely to be given to younger children for whom remote learning is difficult. An update on this year's Leaving Certificate is also expected to be given soon.