Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 December 2020
347. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education if a commitment will be given and initiated to ensure remote learning options for school children who are living with a person in the very high risk category also referred to as extremely vulnerable for Covid-19 in 2021 as a strategy for mitigating the risk of transmission from festive gatherings and following ECDC suggestions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43527/20]
View answerIn the context of the Covid-19 pandemic the Government has identified as an objective that all students should return to education as normal to the fullest extent possible, while minimising the risks from a public health perspective. Schools have put significant measures in place to reduce the risk of coronavirus being transmitted to/within the school and significant funding has been provided to support schools in this respect. The evidence to date from a public health perspective is that schools are safe. The approach to Covid-19 in schools is led by the advice and guidance of the HSE Public Health.
The HSE Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) has issued specific advice about children attending school in the context of covid-19. This advice covers both children with underlying medical conditions and children living with family members with underlying conditions. For all children, care should continue to be taken to reduce transmission through the measures promoted by HPSC.
The HPSC advice advises that children with immediate family members, including parents, in both the ‘high risk’ and ‘very high risk’ categories can return to school and it is important for the child’s overall well-being. This is consistent with public health advice internationally in relation to at-risk family members. The priority is that the household continues to follow all current advice on how to minimise the risk of coronavirus, through regular hand washing, etc.
