Ministers want primary classes in July

MINISTERS have urged the Taoiseach to look at having special classes for primary school children in July.

A four-and-half-hour Cabinet meeting yesterday heard a robust criticism of Government Covid-19 restrictions and of decisions that are being credited to the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET).

Concerns about children ‘regressing’ from lack of schooling were raised.

Ministers said that Taoiseach Leo Varadkar let them ‘off the leash’ at the lengthy meeting where there was widespread criticism of Covid-19 restrictions.

They raised concerns highlighted by parents in their constituencies over primary school children falling behind due to the continuing closure of schools.

‘Children are regressing emotionally, socially, academically,’ said one minister, ‘Most kids love school nowadays, the devastation it is causing is not being acknowledged.’

At the end of the meeting – where ministers raised questions about education, travel restrictions, continuing closures of businesses and even the twometre social-distancing rule, the Taoiseach

said that he would organise a meeting for them with Dr Tony Holohan.

‘Today’s meeting was a more robust interaction, there was more questioning of NPHET’s decisions and the Taoiseach let the meeting flow. In that other meetings, he asked us to keep our contributions to a few minutes, as we had to stay within the two-hour limit on meetings. But today he let us off the leash,’ said a source.

A number of ministers called on the Government to initiate a speedier move from a 5km travel limit to a 20km limit.

Ministers Finian McGrath, Eoghan Murphy, Michael Ring and Michael Creed all urged a greater flexibility on travel restrictions.

One of the ministers in the meeting said Finian McGrath raised the point that the World Health Organisation had advised one-metre distancing as opposed to Ireland’s two-metre rule.

Mr McGrath, backed by other ministers, said a one-metre distance would be of a huge help to pubs, restaurants and schools when they reopen. A number of ministers also called for serious focus to a return to schools in September.

Minister Ring called for a fast-tracking of small businesses reopening as he raised concerns about their continuing viability.