Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 October 2020
84. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education if she will consider implementing distance online teaching in the final weeks of the school term to allow teachers time to self-isolate before they visit their families for Christmas Day. [29979/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are no plans to partially or fully close schools for the reasons outlined by Deputy. The HPSC guidance recognises that children should attend school as it is important for the child’s overall well-being.
Schools are proving to be safe places for children and staff and this is recognised by public health teams who have acknowledged that schools are successfully implementing the HPSC recommendations and keeping transmission levels very low.
The Health Protection Surveillance Centre and the HSE have published guidance for managing potential cases of COVID-19 in educational settings, which includes the testing strategy within an educational facility ‘Schools Pathway for COVID-19, the Public Health approach’:
https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/a0bff-reopening-our-primary-and-special-schools/
This guidance provides that the HSE Department of Public Health will liaise directly with schools regarding any actions to be taken following a Public Health Risk Assessment. In practice, this involves the HSE Department of Public Health liaising directly with the designated contact, usually the school principal of the public health instructions. These instructions are for implementation of public health measures required under Infectious Diseases legislation.
