Covid-19 Pandemic

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 September 2021

Thursday, 16 September 2021

Questions (237)

Holly Cairns

Question:

237. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education if she will ensure that all staff in her Department and public bodies and agencies that operate under her remit who by necessity of their work have to come into close proximity with others, including other employees or members of the public, are provided with medical-grade masks in the EN14683 category; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44370/21]

Written answers

Minister for Education

The safety and welfare of employees and the minimisation of the impact of COVID-19 in the workplace are important principles in the management of COVID-19.

The Government published the ‘Work Safely Protocol’ in November 2020. It incorporates advice and guidance on the public health measures needed to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace as issued by National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), the Department of Health and the Government. It advises on the measures required in every place of work to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and the ongoing safe operation of those workplaces. The Public Health advice includes information on the management and control of outbreaks, selection of hand sanitisers, wearing of masks, and ventilation of workplaces.

My Department is following the central guidance that is in place across the public sector. At present, under that guidance, the wearing of face coverings is not mandatory in office environments. However, the guidance suggests that employees should consider wearing face coverings in places or situations where it may be difficult to achieve or maintain 2m physical/social distancing. I can confirm that medical grade masks have been provided for certain staff in my Department whose work involves them interacting with customers/others where the physical distance of 2 m cannot be maintained.

Contact details for the State Bodies under the aegis of my Department are set out in the attached document should the Deputy wish to contact them directly with her query.

Contact E-Mail Addresses for State Bodies under the Remit of the Department of Education as at 11 May 2021

Name of Body	Dedicated Email address for the Members of the Oireachtas	Designated Official Responsible for assisting Oireachtas Members
An Chomhairle um Oideachais Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta. See Note 1	[e-mail]	[e-mail]
Educational Research Centre	[e-mail]	[e-mail]
National Centre for Guidance in Education	[e-mail]	[e-mail]
National Council for Curriculum and Assessment. See Note 2	[e-mail]	[e-mail]
State Examinations Commission	[e-mail]	[e-mail]
The Teaching Council	[e-mail]	Tomás Ó Ruairc
National Council for Special Education	[e-mail]	[e-mail] and [e-mail]
Residential Institutions Statutory Fund – Caranua. See Note 3	[e-mail]	[e-mail]

Note 1 – The designated officer responsible within An Chomhairle um Oideachais Gaeltachta is Muireann Ní Mhóráin.

Note 2 - The spelling of the NCCA e-mail address to which Oireachtas queries may be addressed has been verified with the NCCA as being accurate.

Note 3 –The Executive Office of Caranua (Residential Institutions Statutory Fund) has completed its work, work is now under way to address the winding up of Caranua. In the interim queries in regard to Caranua are being addressed by the Department of Education, pending the passing of legislation to address the wind-up. Contact details for a Departmental official is provided above.