Minister for Education Norma Foley has reiterated that schools will fully reopen in a safe and sustainable manner at the end of August.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Ms Foley said it will be back to school, as normal, for the entire school community at the end of the summer.
She explained that primary school classes will be a "bubble" and within that bubble, there will be smaller "pods" and one metre distancing between each pod.
She added that social distancing is not a prerequisite for younger pupils. The minister said she had every confidence that there is the capacity within schools to reopen.