Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 July 2021
74. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if there has been provision made for the third-level students who cannot for physiological reasons avail of the Covid-19 vaccine but wish to return to campus physically in the 2021-2022 college year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36525/21]
View answerThe Government has committed to planning for a significant increase in onsite attendance in the tertiary education sector in the next academic year.
Following consultation with sectoral stakeholders and on following Government approval, the Minister published A Safe Return: Plan for a safe return to on-site Further and Higher Education and Research in 2021/22. The Safe Return Plan can be accessed here: www.gov.ie/en/publication/bcd91-a-safe-return-to-on-site-further-and-higher-education-and-research/
The Plan reflects the essential nature of higher and further education and training, and research activities, and in that context, provides for comprehensive on-site activity for the next academic year, with almost full scale on-site activities, utilising a Discretionary Framework with a more expansive definition of necessary on-site activities. In addition, contingency planning, based on a more restrictive public health environment, is also being prepared by the sector. Even in a more restrictive public health environment, it is envisaged that there would still be significant on-site activities.
To support the Plan, the sector has developed a Pact of actions and commitments to ensure that the return is safe. Under this Pact, institutions and providers are committing to making provisions for the needs of vulnerable and high-risk staff, students and learners where vaccination is medically contraindicated. More details on the sectoral pact are available in section 5 of the Plan.
Institutions and providers are currently progressing their own detailed planning and work for a comprehensive return to on-site activity, and students and learners who cannot avail of the vaccine should engage with their institution or provider directly, as they are best placed to provide information on their plans for the new academic year.
