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Covid-19 Pandemic

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 September 2020

Tuesday, 22 September 2020

Questions (406, 487)

Cian O'Callaghan

Question:

406. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education the measures in place to address Covid-19 clusters that emerge in schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24766/20]

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Cian O'Callaghan

Question:

487. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education the case in which schools report a confirmed Covid-19 case the measures enacted by the schools once they are reported; whether or not the class deemed close contacts or not close contacts and if not, the rationale for the consideration; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25520/20]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 406 and 487 together.

My Department has published a suite of helpful guidance for the safe and sustainable reopening of schools. Each school is required to have a COVID-19 Response Plan for the safe operation through the prevention, early detection and control of COVID-19 in line with public health advice. This guidance is focused on the practical steps schools must take to minimise the risk of transmission of infection.

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre and the HSE have published guidance for managing potential cases of COVID-19 in educational settings, which includes the testing strategy within an educational facility ‘Schools Pathway for COVID-19, the Public Health approach’ https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/a0bff-reopening-our-primary-and-special-schools/

This guidance provides that the HSE Department of Public Health will liaise directly with schools regarding any actions to be taken following a Public Health Risk Assessment. In practice, this involves the HSE Department of Public Health liaising directly with the designated contact, usually the school principal of the public health instructions. These instructions are for implementation of public health measures required under Infectious Diseases legislation.

Questions Nos. 407 to 410, inclusive, answered with Question No. 387.
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