Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

File image of Taoiseach Micheál Martin. Sasko Lazarov

Government will 'prioritise' schools staying open in new roadmap, Taoiseach says

Micheál Martin also said he anticipates endorsing guidance from the CMO about Dublin-specific measures.

THE NEW ROADMAP for ‘Living with Covid’ due to be announced by the government on Tuesday will “prioritise” schools and colleges staying open, the Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said. 

Speaking on RTÉ’s The Week in Politics, Martin said the government will “absolutely” prioritise schools remaining open over other issues like pubs, plane travel and sports.

The plan will include a colour-coded, five-level system to indicate what public health measures are in place in different areas of the country at any given time. 

“The life chances of a child depend crucially on education and learning, and as a society I think we get that,” he said. 

“That’s why we must do everything we possibly can, notwithstanding the pandemic, to keep our children at school safely and also our young people learning in our universities and our institutes of technology.”

The Taoiseach added that a “key element” of the new plan will be the reduction of social contacts, especially in the home.  

Martin said the government will be “acting decisively” with Tuesday’s announcement and elaborated on previous comments about further restrictions in Dublin.

He said yesterday that the government would have no hesitation in implementing Dublin-specific measures to deal with Covid-19. 

“We can anticipate in terms of an endorsement of the guidance of the CMO [Chief Medical Officer] in that respect,” Martin said today when asked if Dublin can anticipate further restrictions. 

Yesterday, CMO Dr Ronan Glynn directly appealed to the people of Dublin to limit their contacts as much as possible over the coming weeks. 

There is an average of 104 cases being reported in Dublin, and in the past fortnight, there have been 1,055 confirmed Covid-19 cases in Dublin, giving a 14-day incidence rate of 78 cases per 100,000 of the population. 

Glynn said the disease is growing at a rate of 4% per day in Dublin, and that the R0 is at 1.4. If nothing changes, the number of cases in Dublin will double in the next fortnight, he said.

Martin said the government will consult with Glynn prior to Tuesday’s announcement.  

“We have to learn also from what we’ve done in the past,” Martin said.

The severe restrictions brought into Kildare, Laois and Offaly did work and there was a lot of opposition and it was very difficult.

The Taoiseach added that there are “different challenges in Dublin”, but the government can learn from what worked in the localised lockdowns in terms of suppressing cases of the virus. 

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
38 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Martin Sinnott
    Favourite Martin Sinnott
    Report
    Dec 27th 2018, 7:57 AM

    Another Quango with all the usual faces after consultancy companies are paid millions.

    179
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Chin Feeyin
    Favourite Chin Feeyin
    Report
    Dec 27th 2018, 9:43 AM

    @Martin Sinnott: you can see the future? Cool. Give us the winning Lotto numbers!

    22
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sarah
    Favourite Sarah
    Report
    Dec 27th 2018, 11:03 AM

    @Chin Feeyin: He’s just making an educated guess I’d wager. Almost certainly right about it too….

    54
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Trevor Hayden
    Favourite Trevor Hayden
    Report
    Dec 27th 2018, 8:02 AM

    How convenient for FF and FG, hand picked by themselves no doubt, similar to the counting stations.

    117
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fear Uisce
    Favourite Fear Uisce
    Report
    Dec 27th 2018, 7:55 AM

    another quango, another job for Leo’s boys

    136
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Chin Feeyin
    Favourite Chin Feeyin
    Report
    Dec 27th 2018, 10:11 AM

    @Fear Uisce: well, it’s a public consultation, so get out your crayons and start writing.

    31
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute prop joe
    Favourite prop joe
    Report
    Dec 27th 2018, 8:49 AM

    This has corruption written all over it. Make the system over bureaucratic to squeeze out smaller parties and censor political opponents.

    103
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Willy Mc Caul
    Favourite Willy Mc Caul
    Report
    Dec 27th 2018, 9:44 AM

    FFG want total control..

    73
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Adrian
    Favourite Adrian
    Report
    Dec 27th 2018, 9:53 AM

    We know from experience that anything “independent” thats set up by our govs is really not independent at all.

    78
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gerard Heery
    Favourite Gerard Heery
    Report
    Dec 27th 2018, 9:28 AM

    Dictatorship on the cards by the looks of it ,never needed any one to overlook the elections since Bertie’s s voting machines and look at the mess and cost entailed

    61
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute TamuMassif2019
    Favourite TamuMassif2019
    Report
    Dec 27th 2018, 6:15 PM

    @Gerard Heery: F.G. is learning using the film, The rise and rise of Michael Rimmer, as a guide?

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dominic Leleu
    Favourite Dominic Leleu
    Report
    Dec 27th 2018, 10:11 AM

    What a joke.

    37
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ianmoone
    Favourite Ianmoone
    Report
    Dec 27th 2018, 10:41 AM

    More money down the drain for the EU and our globalist politicians to decide if our answer fits with theirs.

    36
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute paul kelly
    Favourite paul kelly
    Report
    Dec 27th 2018, 9:08 AM

    Along with using pps numbers this will stop the “home to vote” group.

    28
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Flood
    Favourite John Flood
    Report
    Dec 27th 2018, 8:42 AM

    Perhaps some good could come from this like “vote by mail”, early voting, and voting on weekends.

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute tommytukamomo
    Favourite tommytukamomo
    Report
    Dec 27th 2018, 9:06 AM

    @John Flood: it’s Ireland so I doubt it.

    35
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Niall
    Favourite Niall
    Report
    Dec 27th 2018, 10:41 AM

    some comments on here really crack me up!! Hilarious!!

    18
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fergus Robson
    Favourite Fergus Robson
    Report
    Dec 27th 2018, 10:52 AM

    @Niall: literally all the swivel-eyes have come out for this one. Remarkable really the extent of uncomprehending hostility they exhibit while remaining almost totally clueless about the political and electoral process and why this is a positive change.

    18
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Chin Feeyin
    Favourite Chin Feeyin
    Report
    Dec 27th 2018, 12:41 PM

    @Fergus Robson: and most of them too young to vote!

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Frank McGlynn
    Favourite Frank McGlynn
    Report
    Dec 27th 2018, 2:40 PM

    The role of the State in our democracy should be absolutely neutral as regards policies and parties. Funding for political parties favours the insiders i.e. the existing parties and puts new emerging parties at a disadvantage.

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute marydebbie
    Favourite marydebbie
    Report
    Dec 27th 2018, 1:27 PM

    Like the ‘true results’ of the abortion referendum!!!!! Shower of liars :(

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute TamuMassif2019
    Favourite TamuMassif2019
    Report
    Dec 27th 2018, 6:14 PM

    Why???

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel