NOW THE TAOISEACH HAS A DIFFERENT IDEA FROM THE TAOISEACHS HELPER ...The Taoiseach has said keeping schools open remains a key priority of the Government and "we can make Level 3 work" if everyone changes their behaviours and work together.
In a statement, Micheál Martin said the move to Level 3 of the 'Living with Covid' plan involves a greater level of restrictions for people and stronger compliance measures are in place.
He said that "if we all change our behaviours and work together we can make Level 3 work, protect lives and livelihoods, show that we can contain the virus and prevent its growth."
He said the reopening of schools shows what can be done with collective effort and compliance with safety measures and, as a result, the "mental, educational and physical well-being of our nation's children has been protected and enhanced."
The Taoiseach said the coming weeks will be challenging, "but working with NPHET, we will respond firmly and appropriately.
"We have the capacity and resources to come through this and we will," he said, and urged people to stay safe and continue to adhere to public health guidelines by reducing social contacts, handwashing, wearing a face mask and "behave as if you have the virus".
Speaking on RTÉ's The Week in Politics, Minister of State at the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Niall Collins said there is "absolutely no plan to close our schools beyond the traditional one-week break around Halloween".