To ask the Minister of Education for the estimated cost to schools for additional extended cleaning practices and sanitising products per term, and how this will be budgeted for.

My Department has established a Restart Programme to consider a range of issues relating to the safe and effective re-opening of schools. As part of this, guidance is being prepared, through co-design with practitioners, on practical issues linked to a “new school day”. This will cover issues such as hygiene and cleaning practices.

It is likely that there will be additional costs as a result of additional health and safety measures, such as cleaning. The Department is not in a position to quantify these costs at this stage. These will be identified and managed as work develops on Restart.