Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 November 2021
515. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education the number of HSA inspections carried out specifically in relation to Covid-19 in primary and post-primary schools over the academic year 2020-2021 and to date in the current academic year. [52583/21]
View answerMy Department has agreed a Memo of Understanding with the Health and Safety Authority that reflects our shared objective of ensuring that the Return to Work Safety Protocol for addressing COVID-19 in the workplace is being implemented.
In relation to school inspections, my Department’s Inspectorate lead on inspection visits to schools for the purposes of working with and advising schools in implementing the Return to Work Safety Protocol for addressing COVID-19 in the workplace and public health advice. The objectives of the inspection visits in this context are to support school leaders and boards of management as they implement the COVID-19 Response Plan for the safe and sustainable operation of Primary Schools, Special Schools and Post-Primary Schools. The visits also provide an assurance that the COVID-19 Response Plan for the safe and sustainable operation of Primary Schools, Special Schools and Post-Primary Schools is being implemented by school authorities.
There has been 431 safe provision of schooling inspection visits to primary schools in 2020, and 895 visits in 2021 to date. There has been 309 safe provision of schooling inspection visits to post-primary schools in 2020, and 298 visits in 2021 to date.
