Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said he wants to get the schools reopened and ensure there is enough health care capacity over the next 18 months.
Speaking on RTÉ's Today with Claire Byrne programme, Mr Martin said "we have taken it on" and see it as important for society to get a million people back to school.
Mr Martin said the core issue with going back to school is that there are risks and yet most people want children to go back.
He said there will be challenges but he has seen the innovations with perspex screens and technology being used to try and keep people safe.