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Covid-19 Pandemic

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 February 2021

Wednesday, 3 February 2021

Ceisteanna (370)

Seán Haughey

Ceist:

370. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Education the criteria which will be used when deciding whether to reopen schools; if the R number and the number of daily Covid-19 cases will be taken into account; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5325/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Government has always been guided by public health advice in relation to the safe operation of schools.  The CMO has stated in his advices to Government which are published on gov.ie, that schools are safe environments, with very little evidence of transmission within schools, and that the majority of infections of children and adolescents occurs outside the school setting.

The decision to delay the reopening of schools was in recognition of the need to reduce societal activity and movement to curb the spread of the virus at a time where there was unprecedented levels of disease transmission in the community. This was not based on a changed assessment of the risks in relation to transmission levels in schools.

Public Health has consistently advised that schools are safe places for both students and staff because of the infection control measures in place in our schools. Public Health have also stated that the new variants of the disease do not change the infection prevention and control measures required in schools. Schools have been supported by a funding package of €450m to put in place and maintain these key measures. Public Health advice is that compliance with these measures ensure that schools remain safe places for children and staff.

My Department has agreed a plan with the relevant education stakeholders for the phased return to in-person learning for children in special schools and children in special classes in mainstream schools. This phased reopening will commence next Thursday 11 February with children in special schools returning on a 50 per cent shared basis from that date.  

My Department’s ongoing engagement with public health and the education partners is focusing on the safe return of all pupils and students to school at the earliest opportunity, especially for children in priority cohorts and supporting the provision of remote learning at this time.

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