Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 January 2022
1747. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health the reason schools have not been identified as significant sources of infection given that other European Union countries have found them to be so and have proceeded in their reopening on that basis; if he will publish the advice on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1576/22]
View answerThe Government has recognised the very significant impacts previous social and economic restrictions have had on families and children to date. A core priority of the Government throughout the pandemic has been to protect the continued operation of the education and childcare sector, in recognition of its importance to the health and development of children.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Department of Education is responsible for policy in relation to schools. The Deputy will also be aware of the decision to reopen schools after the Christmas break from 6 January, as planned, and the statement issued by the Minister for Education in this regard on 4 January 2022 (www.gov.ie/en/press-release/f16b6-statement-following-meeting-between-minister-foley-and-education-stakeholders-today-4-january-2022/ ).
The Irish and international experience of the pandemic continues to give us reason to believe that schools are a lower risk environment for the transmission of COVID-19 and that the majority of children who are infected experience a mild form of this disease.
The Minister for Education and her officials have continually worked with representatives from public health in the HSE, to ensure that schools are a safe environment for children and teachers, and that face-to-face learning can continue for all our students. They met prior to the reopening of schools to review the COVID-19 mitigation measures in place in schools. Public health experts in the HSE remain of the view that these mitigation measures are effective and appropriate. Furthermore, public health officials advised that there was no public health rationale to delay the reopening of schools.
Schools should operate in line with their COVID-19 response plans, which set out a range of mitigation measures, including hand hygiene, mask-wearing, and social distancing. Schools have also been provided with guidance on maintaining good ventilation. Guidance for parents and students on ensuring that symptomatic students and household close contacts do not attend school has been issued through a communications campaign as well as directly through schools. Further to the meeting between the Minister for Education, the education stakeholders and public health officials from the HSE, clarifications and further information issued to schools from public health and the Department in advance of schools reopening. In addition, the commencement of the COVID-19 vaccination programme for children aged 5-11 years will provide a further important layer of protection to ensure that our children can continue to engage in all of the activities that are so important for their health and wellbeing.
The evidence relating to COVID-19, and the actions deemed appropriate to mitigate the impact of the virus across the population, are kept under continuing review by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), the Department of Health and by the Government. The measures in place will continue to be reviewed and adapted, as appropriate, to the epidemiological profile of the disease, its impact on healthcare utilisation and outcomes, the vaccination status of the population and ECDC guidance.
