Families 'risk schools not opening if they choose to go abroad'

However, because the Government continues to advise against non-essential travel overseas, the onus has been put on families to stay at home.

"If parents want their kids to be back in school in August, they should be holidaying at home and spending time at home," a senior Government source said.

"The overarching message is to stay at home this summer".

The Department of Education confirmed that anyone arriving back into Ireland from a country not on the 'green list' would have to restrict their movement for 14 days.

"This includes parents and children," a spokesperson for the department said.

It is understood the plan will restore guidance counsellor hours, which were cut during the financial crash, to help students adapt to the new normal, in what will be a significant development.

Schools will be given money on a pro-rata basis based on pupil numbers and will get funding to cover some additional costs, such as supervision.

"There is serious emphasis being put on wellbeing and guidance counsellors will play a huge role in that," a source said.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said that schools would return for a five-day week at the end of August.

The Fianna Fáil leader said he was struck by the level of emphasis being put on the wellbeing of students in the plan.

"This is not about resuming schools for the sake of it, it is very much a plan which will enable schools to reopen fully for the long haul," Mr Martin said.

Education Minister Norma Foley said the plan, which is due to be finalised over the weekend, would provide much-needed clarity.

"This package will outline the measures and the resources required to enable the reopening of schools. We have been involved in deep and positive engagement with all education stakeholders and partners to make sure the measures take account of as wide a range of input as possible," she said.

The Taoiseach stressed the package would also ensure that "special needs education returns to where it needs to be".

Minister of State for Special Education Josepha Madigan confirmed that €74 would be made available for each student with special needs to help accommodate their return to school.

Meanwhile, the Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland (ASTI) has dismissed the €42m allocation for post-primary schools in the July stimulus package as "inadequate".

General secretary Kieran Christie also said the €75m capital package made available to schools to fund structural alterations would not be sufficient due to the "mammoth" task ahead.

"It is doubtful that this capital works package will be enough to meet the enormous challenges that are out there. I suspect they will have to dig deeper," Mr Christie said.

"There can be no compromising on the health of teachers and students."

Teachers unions are also hoping the plan will provide clarity as to how substitution cover will work if a teacher displays Covid symptoms.

Conor Griffin, spokesperson for the Teachers' Union of Ireland (TUI), said the plan must address teacher shortages.

"In addition to the capital budget, an overarching need will be an enhanced teaching allocation to ensure that arrangements that are in line with public health advice can be put in place and to provide against circumstances in which schools find themselves short-staffed because of necessary absences."

Higher Education Minister Simon Harris announced yesterday a €100m package to help get people back to education.

As part of the stimulus package, 35,500 new places in further and higher education will be provided to help people re-skill, and if necessary, change their careers.

"This initiative will assist people who have lost their jobs during the pandemic," he said.