Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 November 2021
121. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education when school leaders can expect to receive antigen testing for the school community; if antigen testing will require additional expenditure by the school or parents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57312/21]
View answer147. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Education if she will report on antigen testing protocols and supports for schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57293/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 121 and 147 together.
The Department of Health and the HSE, working in collaboration with the Department of Education has announced a programme in which antigen tests will be made available to children in a primary school pod, where a child in the pod is a confirmed case of COVID-19. The tests will be sent to the children’s parents by the HSE.
Parents and Guardians of a primary school child, who is a confirmed case of COVID-19 following a PCR test, are asked to inform their school’s principal. The school principal will then inform the parents of other children in the pod of a confirmed case. No personal details of the child will be shared. These parents will be provided with the option to receive free antigen tests for their child, which they will be able to order for delivery to their home.
It is important that parents inform principals quickly if a child receives a PCR ‘detected’ test for Covid-19. By doing this, the choice to participate in antigen testing can be offered to other parents quickly. It is important that everyone continues to follow all the public health advice in using this new programme. The programme will commence on or before the 29th November.
It is not mandatory for children to participate in antigen testing. Children who are in a pod where a child has tested positive for Covid-19 can continue to attend school, whether they participate in antigen testing or not, provided they are not experiencing symptoms of Covid-19.
School principals will not be required to gather evidence of participation or of any antigen test results. Information materials for parents and principals will be shared with schools and publicised directly to parents and this programme will commence shortly.
Schools are still required to undertake the two most important actions to prevent the introduction and spread of Covid-19 (and other respiratory viruses), by ensuring no-one with new acute symptoms attend class, and that all recommended infection prevention and control measures are in place in line with school Covid response plans.
