Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 9 September 2020
153. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education if a review will be undertaken of the case of a teacher (details supplied) in County Louth who recently underwent major surgery; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22708/20]
View answerRegarding Coronavirus (Covid 19) the position is that arrangements for teachers are set out in Circular 0049/2020, which is published on my Department’s website at link: Circular 0049/2020
In this regard my Department has put in place an enhanced occupational healthcare service to assist education staff who have concerns about their risk of returning to the workplace.
A process has been established where a detailed questionnaire is submitted along with detailed medical evidence to provide clarity with respect to the medical complaints in question. All of this information is reviewed by a specialist occupational health physician, including the combined and cumulative risk that can arise when an individual suffers from more than one health condition.
The employee is categorised into one of three COVID-19 risk categories. These are general population risk, higher risk, and very high risk. This is in line with the approach being adopted in other areas of the public sector including the health sector.
The outcome of the risk categorisation is in large measure governed by the HSE guidance. However, the occupational healthcare service retains the discretion to place someone into the higher risk group if they feel they have more than one complaint and that their combination of risks warrants a higher categorisation. No individual is placed at a lower level of risk than that set out by the HSE standards.
In general, where the education staff member is in the very high risk category, then the staff member will be provided with alternative working arrangements e.g. working from home. Where the education staff member is in the general population risk or higher risk category, current HSE guidelines are that this employee could attend the workplace with appropriate social distancing and hygiene measures. Where social distancing is problematic, for example due to the nature of the role, working closely with others is possible providing that adequate controls (e.g. screens, face coverings, PPE) are effective in managing the risk. In this context, the school will discuss with the employee the School Covid-19 Response Plan, as this contains the risk assessment of the school and the measures that are being put in place to mitigate the risk posed by Covid-19.
Where an individual feels that they have been placed in an incorrect risk category a review process has been put in place by the occupational healthcare provider. This review will be undertaken by a team of four specialist occupational physicians who re-evaluate the medical evidence and deliver a consensus opinion on the risk categorisation.
In terms of the employer, there is an obligation on the school to go through the Covid response plan with the employee and ensure that all appropriate risk mitigation measures are in place for the protection of staff in the school.
