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The government plans to begin reopening schools from March 1.
Education Minister Norma Foley is expected to tell Cabinet that her department has a “strong preference” for students to come back in stages during the month.
It is understood that tomorrow he will speak to the Oireachtas Education Subcommittee about Leaving Cert.
The news comes just hours after Micheál Martin promised again that an agreement on the exit certificate will be closed this week.
He said: “Irish students require that” because of the “stress” and “anxious” times the stagnation has caused.
The Taoiseach’s intervention again this morning will be seen as a warning shot to the teacher unions to put their house in order and reach an agreement.
Discussions are ongoing between the Minister of Education, Norma Foley, department officials and representatives of the two main unions of high school teachers in the country, ASTI and TUI.
Mr. Martin pledged in several interviews last week that there would be a resolution this week, but the unions have not moved since.
The Taoiseach was speaking on his way to this week’s cabinet meeting, where the topic will be the top item on the agenda.
He told reporters, including the Mirror outside government buildings: “I think it still holds in terms of clarity this week because the students in Ireland require it.
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“It has been a very stressful and very anxious time for students and for the world of education in general, because Covid-19 has changed all of our lives, particularly the lives of young people and particularly in the context of education.
“So I think it is very important that everyone involved in the talks do their best to clarify now the situation for the students in terms of the Leaving Cert class of 2021.”
Mr. Martin added: “I think that will happen, I think the talks have been intense, they are continuing and the Minister of Education will brief us at the cabinet meeting this morning and we will go from there.”
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