Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 December 2020
376. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education the way in which regulations were policed, in view of the fact that many of these families were attending schools (details supplied); if in such cases the schools are informed of the practice; and the way in which this regulation is managed. [40261/20]
View answerFrom Monday 9 November, Ireland has implemented the EU co-ordinated traffic light approach for those travelling into Ireland.
In general this requires those returning to or entering Ireland from orange or red list countries to restrict their movements for 14 days, and this includes school staff, parents and students and students coming from abroad to attend school in Ireland. Restricting your movements means staying indoors in one location and avoiding contact with other people and social situations as much as possible.
Schools have a duty of care to all of its students and staff members. If a school has reasonable grounds for believing that its duty of care toward its staff and students is being undermined schools can refuse access to the student or staff member concerned during this period.
The whole school community is working together to create a positive and safe environment for teaching and learning in the particular context of COVID-19. Ensuring that all students and their parents are made aware of the public health requirements as they relate to schools in a COVID-19 context is very important.
My Department, working with the education partners, has developed a range of information and resources for parents and students to reinforce the importance of the safety control measures in place in school to minimise the risk of spread of infection are observed by all students.
