Thomas Gould
Ceist:66. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education the PPE to be worn by teachers in schools and the location in which the guidance on this can be found. [33949/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraDáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 4 November 2020
66. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education the PPE to be worn by teachers in schools and the location in which the guidance on this can be found. [33949/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has published a suite of helpful guidance for the safe and sustainable reopening of schools. Each school is required to have a COVID-19 Response Plan for the safe operation through the prevention, early detection and control of COVID-19 in line with public health advice. This guidance is focused on the practical steps schools must take to minimise the risk of transmission of infection
Following a centralised procurement process, my Department has established a multi-supplier arrangement from which schools can choose a supplier and select the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), Consumables and equipment products that best suits their needs and the requirements under the Roadmap https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/b264b-roadmap-for-the-full-return-to-school/ .
This ensures schools have access to, on a value for money basis, a secure supply chain of various PPE and consumables under the Roadmap and their COVID-19 School Response Plan including hand sanitisers, sanitiser fluids, face coverings/visors, gloves, wipes etc.
A COVID-19 Capitation Grant for PPE, Consumables and Equipment of €25 per pupil, with an enhanced rate of €100 per pupil attending a special school or attending a special class attached to a mainstream school will apply to fund school costs to the end of 2020. This capitation grant takes account of a number of once off type costs, which schools face in implementing COVID-19 Response Plans (i.e. installation of sanitiser units, signage/posters etc.) which will be incurred upfront.