Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 January 2021
197. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education if students living with persons who are in the very high risk groups that are extremely vulnerable to Covid-19 will continue to be provided with the option of remote learning from home when school buildings reopen; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3203/21]
View answerSchools 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 the 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.
The Department’s ongoing engagement with public health and partners at the present time has focused on the safe phased return of children with special educational needs to in-school learning on the 21 January. Regrettably despite intensive engagements it has not being possible to achieve this shared objective. The Department will continue to engage with our partners to provide in school learning for this important cohort of pupils as soon as is possible.
