Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 May 2021
311. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education the position in relation to teachers who are in the very high risk category and have received their Covid-19 vaccination and wish to return to work; the reason an organisation (details supplied) does not take full Covid-19 vaccination into account in the context of its back-to-work strategy for teachers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25233/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe general principles to apply to the management of COVID-19 includes the safety and welfare of school staff and the minimisation of the impact of COVID-19 on teaching and learning. The current COVID-19 arrangements in place for teachers and Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) are outlined in my Department’s Circular Letter 0021/2021.
My Department has an enhanced Occupational Health Service (OHS) in place, to provide employers with occupational health advice in relation to teacher’ fitness for work. The current OHS provider, Medmark Occupational Healthcare Ltd. has a process in place for school staff with health concerns about their risk of serious illness from contracting COVID-19, through workplace attendance.
A detailed on-line questionnaire is submitted by the teacher to the OHS, along with detailed medical evidence to provide clarity with respect to the medical complaint(s) in question. All of this information is reviewed by the OHS specialist occupational health physician, including the combined and cumulative risk that can arise when a teacher suffers from more than one health condition. The risk categorisation is comprehensive and follows the same process that is being applied across other sectors. A teacher is categorised into one of three COVID-19 risk categories. These are ‘Normal Risk’, High Risk’, and ‘Very High Risk’. The outcome of the risk categorisation is governed by the HSE guidance. My Department is following the same guidance that is in use across the public sector.
Based on the current HSE advice, a ‘Very High Risk’ teacher, including a teacher who has been fully vaccinated, must not attend the workplace. However, the teacher remains available for work and the employer should prioritise alternative working arrangements to the maximum extent possible e.g. work from home. Where there is a change to the current HSE advice regarding the ‘Very High Risk’ group attending the workplace, my Department will inform employers.
Having considered the current HSE advice, a ‘Very High Risk’ teacher who wants to attend the workplace may, however, contact his/her employer so that the school’s COVID-19 Response Plan can be discussed, ahead of a workplace risk assessment. The ‘Very High Risk’ teacher must fully understand any risk he/she is taking by requesting a return to the workplace. Where the employer is satisfied the appropriate safeguards are in place in the teacher’s work environment, medical advice must then be sought from the OHS, before the ‘Very High Risk’ teacher can be considered for a return to the workplace.
