Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 1 December 2021
114. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education if she will introduce a full trace and track procedure in place for schools in order to assist with the mitigation of Covid-19 spread in the schools system; and if she has considered advising that primary schools reintroduce a pod system for pupils in class. [59257/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe approach to supporting schools to operate safely during Covid-19 has been to follow and implement public health advice. Following a recommendation from NPHET, a decision was taken by Government to cease routine contact tracing of asymptomatic close contacts in children older than 3 months to under 13 years outside of the household setting, including those attending primary educational with the exception of special educational settings. Contact tracing continues for those over 13 years, including those attending post primary schools.
If there are particular outbreaks of concern in educational facilities, Public Health teams will continue to provide support to schools should it be required and testing will remain available more broadly to children should it be required on public health or clinical grounds or following a Public Health Risk Assessment.
The Department of Health and the HSE, working in collaboration with the Department of Education has announced last week a programme in which antigen tests will be made available to children in primary schools, with effect from this week.
Parents and Guardians of a primary school child, who is a confirmed case of COVID-19 following a PCR test, are asked to inform their school’s principal. The school principal will then inform the parents of other children in the pod of a confirmed case. No personal details of the child will be shared. These parents will be provided with the option to receive free antigen tests for their child, which they will be able to order for delivery to their home.
