Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 January 2022
780. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education if contact tracing in primary schools will be reintroduced as an additional measure given the recent surge in Covid-19 cases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1253/22]
View answerMy Department has always been guided by public health advice in relation to appropriate Covid-19 infection prevention and control measures in place in schools. Public Health has fully reviewed the infection prevention and control measures in effect in schools throughout the pandemic and again over the Christmas period. Public Health has confirmed that there is no change to these infection prevention and control measures to support the safe operation of schools. Policy in relation to contact tracing is within the remit of the Department of Health.
Public Health continues to advise that the two most important actions to prevent the introduction and spread of COVID-19 (and other respiratory viruses), are:
- ensuring no-one with new onset symptoms attends school, and;
- that all recommended infection prevention and control measures are in place in line with school COVID-19 response plans.
These measures protect students, their parents and school staff and are very effective. Public Health remains of the view that these mitigation measures are effective and appropriate.
Contact tracing remains in place for primary school age children who are household close contacts. Any child who is identified by the HSE as a household close contact however, has to restrict their movements and not attend school.
In addition from the end of November 2021 antigen testing has been introduced in primary schools in circumstances where children are part of a classroom pod, where there is a confirmed case of COVID-19. Offering antigen tests to children who are identified as part of a pod in which there was a confirmed case of COVID-19, is an additional measure to support parents and schools. Where there are two cases in a class in more than one pod within a seven days period, antigen testing will be provided to every child in the class. Approximately 190,000 antigen test kits have been distributed to date.
Contact tracing continues in respect of children in special education settings, and in respect of children in post-primary education. The HSE Principals’ line and the Department’s Covid-19 helpline operates seven days a week and remains a source of support for principals.
