Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 July 2021
971. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education if medically vulnerable schoolchildren will be supported to undertake remote learning when schools reopen; if medically vulnerable teachers could become virtual learning facilitators for these children and in this way accommodate the needs of both vulnerable children and teachers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39788/21]
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 low risk environments. 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.
My Department has also published guidance to support schools in making adapted education provision for students with an underlying medical condition who cannot return to school because they are medically certified as being at very high risk to COVID-19.
It is planned that all schools will return fully at the end of August/early September in line with their normal planned reopening times. Schools have been advised that they should continue to operate with the current infection prevention and control measures in place to support their safe operation during COVID-19 when they reopen in the new term. Schools will continue to be supported in terms of the additional resources necessary to provide for these measures.
The Department will also undertake a communications campaign with parents and students/pupils in advance of school reopening to inform and remind them of the arrangements in place in schools operating during Covid-19. This will include specifically targeted information at new pupils/students entering primary and post-primary schools to ensure they are familiar with the new arrangements.
