Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 May 2021
490. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education if she will consider facilitating teachers with weekly Covid-19 tests at their discretion in order for them to feel safe in the workplace; and if regular testing will be considered if they are unable to vaccinate persons working with the public. [26046/21]
View answerThe evidence to date from a public health perspective is that transmission rates of Covid-19 in schools are low. This is a result of the effectiveness of the public health infection prevention and control guidelines for schools and the successful implementation and adherence of all in the school community to the guidelines. Funding of almost €650 million has been put in place by my Department to support the implementation of these COVID-19 related measures, including funding for PPE, sanitation and additional cleaning.
The Department of Education is part of a working group with the HSE which is examining approaches to HSE led pilot studies of the use of antigen testing in education settings, including school early years and college institutions. A number of logistical issues are being worked through by the HSE and Department of Health at the moment.
Given the advanced stage of the current school year it is likely that a pilot will take place in the early years sector initially. It is considered important that data is collected from any pilot of antigen testing within the education sector to ensure that decisions on the more widespread deployment of such tests within the education sector is based on clear evidence from the pilots of the potential to scale to the sector. This is particularly important given the dispersed nature of schools and their locations.
The HSE will continue to use the more accurate PCR tests for testing all index cases and close contacts within the school community and will prioritise the mass swift queue PCR testing for schools which has proven highly effective to date.
