Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 July 2020
733. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education and Skills the person or body in a school setting responsible for the management of and adherence with National Public Health Emergency Team, NPHET, advice. [20852/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn Monday, 27th July, my Department published the report to Government "Reopening Our Schools, The Roadmap for the Full Return to School".
This Roadmap set outs how schools will reopen for all students from the end of August and what the operation of our schools will look like and be sustainable in a COVID-19 context. It has been developed in line with public health advice issued by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC), the Roadmap for Society and Business, and follows comprehensive and intensive engagement with education stakeholders including the school management bodies and staff representatives.
My Department has developed a suite of guidance for schools including the provision of templates to assist school authorities to prepare their school for a full reopening in late August. One of those templates involves Covid-19 Response Plans and all schools are required to have one in place. The Covid-19 Response Plan details the policies and practices necessary for a school to meet the Government's 'Return to Work Safely Protocol', the Department of Education plan for school reopening and to prevent the introduction and spread of Covid-19 in the school environment.
The response plan also provides for the appointment of a Lead Worker Representative (LWR) in each school as required by the return to work safely protocol. The LWR will work in collaboration with the school authorities to assist in the implementation of measures to prevent the spread of COVID -19 and monitor adherence to those measures and to be involved in communicating the health advice around COVID-19 in the school.
