Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 October 2020
480. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Education if a dedicated fund will be established for schools to support the purchase of PPE for medically vulnerable and pregnant teachers in view of the continuing Covid-19 pandemic; and if she will consider reviewing maternity leave arrangements for pregnant teachers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28832/20]
View answerMy 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
My Department has also published guidance in respect of the COVID -19 operational supports for Primary and Post Primary schools to fully and safely reopen in a sustainable way while minimising risk associated with COVID-19. This is available at www.gov.ie/backtoschool.
Following a centralised procurement process, my Department has established a multi-supplier arrangement from which schools can choose a supplier and select the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), Consumables and equipment products that best suits their needs and the requirements under the Roadmap https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/b264b-roadmap-for-the-full-return-to-school/.
This ensures schools have access to, on a value for money basis, a secure supply chain of various PPE and consumables under the Roadmap and their COVID-19 School Response Plan including hand sanitisers, sanitiser fluids, face coverings/visors, gloves, wipes etc.
My Department’s Circular Letter 54/2019 contains the Maternity Leave Scheme for teachers which is regulated by the Maternity Protection Act, 1994 as amended. The general principles to apply to the management of COVID-19 includes the safety and welfare of employees and the minimisation of the impact of COVID-19 on teaching and learning.
Under the current HSE guidelines, a pregnant employee is not deemed to be at very high risk of serious illness from contracting COVID-19, unless suffering from a serious heart condition.
