Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 September 2020
491. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education the protections there will be for SNAs when schools reopen; if there will be specific training provided to same; if SNAs will be required to stay within the pod; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21226/20]
View answerThe Roadmap for the Full Return to School published in July and significant funding was provided to schools along with a range of supports and guidance to enable schools to plan for their reopening.
Extensive guidance on procedures for the reopening of schools is provided on the back to school website which can be assessed at www.gov.ie/backtoschool
The guidance for schools will be updated as required and the Department will continue to work with the health authorities and implement as appropriate any changes necessary to support school reopening in line with any changes to public health advice to manage the spread of COVID-19.
Education staff move routinely between schools in the context of substitute teachers, shared special education teachers and SNAs, and it is not possible to eliminate this movement entirely.
Schools have been provided with additional funding to purchase PPE and SNAs whose work requires them to be in close contact with children should be prioritised for provision of PPE.
It is important that a staff member shared across class bubbles within a school should take particular care to maintain physical distancing and proper hand and respiratory hygiene in moving throughout the school.
In accordance with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, it is the responsibility of school management authorities to have a safety statement in place in their schools. Schools are obliged to identify possible hazards, assess the risks to health and safety and put appropriate safeguards in place.
The Department is supporting schools implement these protocols by providing:
- Induction and tailored training programmes for school staff produced by the Department
- Webinars on health and safety, returning to work safely, managing school return and wellbeing.
- An enhanced Minor Works Grant to support full implementation of COVID-19 response plans
- Additional financial supports to provide for additional cleaning, hand hygiene and PPE costs under the COVID-19 response plans.
As part of the Back to School measures, a specific training segment for SNAs has been provided and is available on https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/dd7fb-induction-training-for-reopening-schools/#sna-induction-training.
