The Department of Education is preparing for a full return of schools this autumn, Minister Norma Foley has confirmed. "We are in constant communication with public health specialists ahead of the new school year and we can confirm that we are preparing for a full return of schools in late August and early September," she said in a statement. "Public Health has stated that the new variants of the disease do not change the infection prevention and control measures required in schools. "The evidence available from the operation of schools during Covid-19 to date shows that schools are low risk environments due to the infection prevention and control measures in place," the Minister for Education said.