Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 May 2021
306. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education her views on the degree to which children including those with special educational needs can safely return to the classroom with special emphasis on the safety of the children and teachers and keeping in place adequate measures to minimise the Covid-19 related risks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4471/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government has always been guided by public health advice in relation to what is safe in schools.
The medical advice is that schools are low risk 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 in January 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.
In line with the current public health advice, all students returned to in-school learning from Monday 12 April. This is the final stage in the phased reopening of all schools.
Schools have put significant infection prevention control measures in place to reduce the risk of coronavirus being transmitted to/within the school.
Funding of almost €630 million has been put in place by my Department to fund these measures, including funding for PPE, sanitation and additional cleaning etc.
Public health has reviewed these measures and is satisfied that when they are rigorously implemented and adhered to, will keep the school community safe.
Since October 2020, Department of Education staff have been assigned to work with the HSE on their dedicated School Teams, in six of the regions of the HSE. The purpose of their work is to assist schools/settings where a positive case of Covid-19 is identified. Inspectors conduct Public Health Risk Assessments in such schools and settings following a notification of a COVID-19 case by the school/setting to the HSE.
My Department’s Inspectorate is coordinating closely with the HSE Public Health Team on an ongoing basis to manage the support needed by the HSE and to keep the level of staffing under review. Weekly reports on the testing of close contact within the education system are published and available on the HPSC website.
The dedicated principals’ help line remains available as a key resource.
My Department and the Department of and Health and the HSE will continue to monitor and review the operation of schools and work with education partners to support the safe operation of schools during this time.
