Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

The reopening of schools has been an important milestone for children and society. The safety and well-being of staff, students and the whole school community has been of paramount importance in the Government's planning for school reopening. The Department of Education and Skills has engaged extensively with stakeholders, including the ASTI, in developing the plans for reopening. Significant funding of more than €375 million was secured and given to schools to ensure the implementation of the Return to Work Safely Protocol and the recommendations of the public health authorities in providing a safe environment for the whole school community.

The Department of Education and Skills has continuing weekly engagement with the public health authorities so that schools can remain open safely, and is also working with stakeholders, including the ASTI, in this respect. Appropriate information and guidance for schools leaders has been provided by public health experts at the HSE and the Department of Education and Skills. Detailed information on the public health approach when there have been confirmed cases on a potential outbreak at a school has been published and issued to all schools. To date, where confirmed cases have arisen, schools have co-operated with public health experts to minimise further risk to the school community. Funding for any personal protective equipment, PPE, required has also been provided to schools.

As for high-risk staff, an enhanced occupational healthcare service has been put in place. Very high-risk staff are permitted to work from home, and other staff in the normal and high-risk categories can return to the workplace provided that appropriate risk-mitigation measures are in place and implemented according to their school's Covid-19 response plan. This is in line with the approach being adopted in other areas of the public sector, including the health sector. A review process is being put in place where concerns remain and the Department will continue to engage with all education partners, including the ASTI, in the coming months.

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