Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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719. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if personal protective equipment, PPE, will be provided for staff; and if a special needs assistant, SNA, or staff member has grounds to refuse to stay in the building if certain PPE is not available on a particular day due to delivery delay or a funding issue. [20811/20]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Education is working to put in place a framework of suppliers to provide the necessary PPE for schools and other Education Sector bodies and institutions. The primary focus of this procurement is to allow for the full and safe reopening of all schools. This is an active procurement which is intended will provide for the  PPE necessary to support the reopening and will be capable of being scaled up and down as required to meet changes in demand.

It is intended that the framework will be available for drawdown from early August which will allow schools sufficient time to secure the PPE necessary for the safe reopening of schools. The Department will also provide guidelines on the usage of PPE. The funding to support this will also be available in schools in advance of reopening so it is not anticipated that school staff will be unable to open due to the non-availability of PPE.  

Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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720. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a special needs assistant, SNA, who has an underlying health condition and is advised not to return to school will be paid; if this leave will affect the person's standard sick leave; if SNAs caring for vulnerable persons will be expected to return to work; the way in which staggered times will affect SNA contracts; if reassignment will be considered again if schools are not to reopen; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20812/20]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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My Department published The Roadmap for The Full Return to School, on Monday along with details of a financial package of over €375 million to support its implementation,  The roadmap outlines a comprehensive range of measures  to support the full reopening of schools in time for the start of the new school year.

Circulars are currently being prepared which will outline the special arrangements to be put in place by employers to cater for employees during this Covid-19 period. These circulars will be issued following consultation with the School Management Bodies and Unions.

 As a contingency for any such reoccurrence of closures whether localised or on a bigger scale it is vital that schools are prepared to ensure compliance with any public health restrictions. In this regard my Department is updating its Continuity of Schooling Guidance documents to support schools in responding in an agile way in the event of a localised school closure.

Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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721. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the way in which special needs assistants, SNAs, will be covered by insurance if they contract Covid-19 and are left with long-term health issues or incur death; if there will be guidelines on the number of cases of Covid-19 within a school to bring about a shutdown of the school; if there is a suspected case, if staff and students that came into contact with the particular child or staff member must self-isolate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20813/20]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has published a roadmap for the safe and sustainable re-opening of schools. It includes details of the arrangements to be put in place in schools to facilitate a safe working environment for all staff. The key message is to do everything possible to keep Covid -19 out and to put in place control regime to minimise the risk of spread if it is introduced into a school. These arrangements are supported by funding of €376 million and this together with the detailed guidance issued by my Department on Monday will allow for the safe and sustainable reopening of schools.

If anyone in a school develops symptoms of Covid-19 including a member of staff or a student they need to self-isolate as soon as they become symptomatic and contact their GP for medical advice.  

The HSE will decide what constitutes a close contact and how it should be managed, including in school settings.

Schools have been reminded that the HSE will inform any staff/parents who come into close contact with a diagnosed case via the contact tracing process. The HSE will contact all relevant persons where a diagnosis of COVID-19 is made. The instructions of the HSE should be followed and staff and pupil confidentiality is essential at all times.

Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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722. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if temperature checks will be implemented for staff and students; the person or body that will be responsible for decision making on sending students home; the position if a parent refuses to take a child home; if it will be made mandatory for parents to keep children at home if a member of the household is showing symptoms; the person responsible for staying with the suspected Covid-19 case while waiting to be collected; if full PPE will be recommended in this instance; the person or body responsible for cleaning the room after use; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20814/20]

Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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724. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the person or body responsible for cleaning in specialised classrooms such as home economics, woodwork, metalwork and others; the way in which the use of shared stationery and books will be monitored if sharing is necessary due to limited supplies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20816/20]

Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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726. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the way in whichspecial needs assistants, SNAs, in post-primary can move from class to class and student to student; if a panel of substitutes will be put in place for a particular area in order that no school is left struggling if an SNA has to self-isolate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20818/20]

Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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727. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if additional funding will be provided to increase the number of toilets and sinks available in schools that have one toilet and one sink for staff; if hot water will be provided in bathrooms for hand washing for schools without hot water; the way in which social distancing will work in staff areas, for example, staff room and staff toilets; if the wearing of uniforms will be suspended in view of the fact many children only have one and will not be able to wash it daily; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20819/20]

Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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729. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if school management will risk assess their building and put in place measures to avoid congregation such as at the sign-in desk, outside waiting on buses and parents congregating outside; if special needs assistants, SNAs, in primary schools are the adult supervising at these times; if they will be responsible for making sure this is adhered to; if there will be visits from an inspector to inspect the premises before opening and from time to time to ensure measures are being adhered to; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20821/20]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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On Monday, the 27th July, my Department published the report to Government “Reopening Our Schools, The Roadmap for the Full Return to School”.  

This Roadmap set outs how schools will reopen for all students from the end of August and what the operation of our schools will look like and be sustainable in a COVID-19 context.  It has been developed in line with public health advice issued by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC), the Roadmap for Society and Business, and follows comprehensive and intensive engagement with education stakeholders including the school management bodies and staff representatives. 

My Department is also providing capital and current funding of an additional €377 million to support the safe and sustainable reopening of schools under the Roadmap. 

This funding includes €52 million for schools to put in place enhanced cleaning and hygiene measures to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission in schools. Enhanced grants are being made available for cleaning to schools with special classes and special schools.

 Funding of approx. €84.7 million so that schools can employ replacement teaching staff, SNA and administrative staff. There will be additional funding of €41.2 million, for substitution in primary schools. This will provide more certainty on the availability of substitutes for primary schools and cover substitutions that are not covered by existing schemes. The Supply Panel Scheme will be expanded nationwide and I am allocating 200 posts to provide substitute cover through these panels. The purpose of supply panels is to support schools to manage the sick leave and other absences by having a supply of teachers to meet substitution needs when required. Schools will continue to be able to access substitute teachers through the normal process, particularly if they are not connected to a supply panel.

 Other funding measures for primary schools include release days for teaching principals which equates to one release day per week and release time for deputy principals in primary schools with an admin principal.  

There is also funding of €40m for enhanced supervision for post primary schools to minimise the interaction of students from different classes, in line with public health advice. An additional 1,080 teaching posts at post-primary level at a cost of €53 million will be provided to support the important work of teaching and learning and provide additional teachers needed to support teacher substitution, management of physical distancing requirements by reallocating class timetables in schools to smaller groups class sizes where necessary.  

Funding of €4.2 million will also be made available to enable schools to employ an aide to assist with implementing logistical changes. €3.8m is being made available to ensure that schools have lead worker representatives, whose role is to support the school to limit the risk of COVID-19 infections. 

I also recognise that the full implementation of the COVID-19 Response Plans for Schools, and the Public Health Advice, may require some reconfiguration works within schools. To support this work, a once off enhanced minor works grant will paid to all primary schools by mid-August.  There is a one off €75 million capital allocation to support schools to prepare their buildings and classrooms for reopening including an uplift for schools with SEN pupils.

In providing funding to schools in this way, schools will have the necessary flexibility to implement necessary physical measures in their school quickly in compliance with the Public Health Advice and the Roadmap. 

The health advice for schools is that on-site temperature taking is not recommended because fever is not a consistent symptom of COVID-19 in children and would result in delayed school entry.

My Department has developed a suite of guidance for schools dealing with the matters raised by the Deputy and also includes the provision of templates. One of those templates involves Covid-19 Response Plans and all schools are required to have one in place. The Covid-19 Response Plan details the policies and practices necessary for a school to meet the Government’s ‘Return to Work Safely Protocol’, the Department of Education plan for school reopening and to prevent the introduction and spread of Covid-19 in the school environment. 

Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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723. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the definition of tidying and disinfecting in terms of the special needs assistant, SNA, role (details supplied); the guidelines to be put in place for specific care needs such as toileting, feeding, movement breaks and so on; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20815/20]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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The NCSE has responsibility for planning and coordinating school supports for children with special educational needs including the allocation of SNAs and reviews. The NCSE allocates SNA support to schools in accordance with the criteria set out in Department Circular 0030/2014, which is available on my Department's website at www.education.ie

My Department has now published The Roadmap to the Full Reopening of school.

This roadmap sets outs how schools will reopen for all students, including students with special educational needs, from the end of August.

It envisages what the operation of our schools will look like upon reopening and contains a range of guidance on the measures to be implemented in schools in order to minimise the risk of the introduction, or spread, of infection in schools.

The Return to Work Safely Protocol will be implemented in all schools which can best prevent the introduction and spread of Covid-19 in the school environment.

The Roadmap sets out the steps that must be taken before a workplace reopens, including mandatory COVID-19 induction training for all staff including SNAs.

The Department is preparing and will disseminate a series of materials for schools to use in planning for reopening and in communicating with their communities in advance of schools reopening. These will include:

- Induction training programmes for school staff produced by the Department – webinars on health and safety, returning to work safely, managing school return and wellbeing.

- Tailored training is in development for different categories of school staff: teachers, lead worker representatives, SNAs, cleaners etc.

- Guidance and support information on curriculum matters.

- Distribution to schools of printed posters with age-appropriate key health messages: hand washing, sneeze and cough etiquette etc. Provision to schools of digital versions of these for additional supply to be sourced locally if required.

- Distribution to schools of the materials for their school communities.

- Guidance for schools and ideas on communicating effectively on school reopening to their pupils and families.

The Roadmap provides details of a range of Additional Supports which will be made available to schools to implement their Covid-19 Response Plan and to operate in a sustainable way. These supports include:

- An enhanced Minor Works Grant to support full implementation of COVID-19 response plans;

- Employing an aide to help with the school re-opening logistics;

- Additional financial supports to provide for additional cleaning, hand hygiene and PPE costs under the COVID-19 response plans;

- Increased management support to primary schools;

- Extending the current pilot supply panel for substitute teachers on a nationwide basis; at primary school level;

- 1,080 additional teaching posts at post primary school level including 120 guidance posts;

- Enhanced supervision supports for post primary schools.

All of these measures will support the return of children with special educational needs to schools in August.

My Department is also making additional provision for special schools and special classes, in recognition of the particular challenges that these schools and classes will face dealing with children with complex medical and care needs.

The Minor Works Grant at Primary and Post Primary level include enhanced rates in respect of students in special classes and schools. This will facilitate preparatory works to be completed in schools to facilitate reopening such as refurbishment of toilets and reconfiguration of school spaces.

The additional per capita funding being provided for pupils in special schools and special classes recognises the additional needs that these pupils have and the additional measures that schools may be required to take to support them.

The Department is also supporting the replacement of all absences of SNAs in school settings.

Enhanced COVID-19 rates are payable in respect of students attending special schools and special classes attached to mainstream schools to assist with the extra costs associated with the cleaning of classrooms with a small number of students, operating specialist provision.

The COVID-19 capitation grant will also be the mechanism through which additional funding will be provided to cater for costs related to hand hygiene measures and PPE requirements under the COVID-19 Response Plan.  Additional provision for this purpose will be confirmed with the establishment of the drawdown framework of suppliers.

It is also recognised that pupils with SEN will require particular support at the time of transition back to school including supporting their well-being, reducing potential anxiety and planning learning experiences that take account of the effect of school closures on their progress.

Schools will have discretion to manage and redistribute their teaching support resources in order to best meet the learning needs of their pupils/students, including pupils/students at "very high risk" to COVID-19.

The return to school package includes enhanced allocations to support staff and children, including those in a special educational needs environment, to be able to return safely for the forthcoming school year.

Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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725. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if school transport will still be supplied for special needs assistants, SNAs, who act as bus escorts; the way in which they will be provided for in terms of social distancing and if they contract Covid-19 on school transport; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20817/20]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education.  In the 2019/20 school year over 120,000 children, including over 14,200 children with special educational needs, were transported in over 5,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres at a cost of over €219m in 2019.

Earlier this week I announced a comprehensive plan detailing a package of measures and resources to be provided to facilitate schools in re-opening.  I also published a detailed roadmap for the full return to school. This roadmap set outs how schools will reopen for all students from the end of August.  It has been developed in line with public health advice issued by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC), the Roadmap for Society and Business, and follows comprehensive and intensive engagement with all relevant stakeholders including Bus Éireann, the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and the National Transport Authority on the logistical considerations that arise in planning for the operation of school transport services for the reopening of our schools. 

School Transport Scheme services operated by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department will fully operate as normal, in line with public health advice, when schools re-open for the 2020/2021 school year with the appropriate hygiene and other measures in place.   

Observing hygiene requirements will be a key priority and we will issue clear communications to all parents and students using school transport services to set out the requirements for those travelling on services.

In addition, Bus Éireann, in consultation with my Department, will provide information and guidance for their own employees and to contractors contracted to operate on the School Transport Scheme on the operation of services within the parameters of the public health advice and the return to work safely protocols.  My Department will provide the appropriate level of funding for PPE, sanitization materials and the additional cleaning regime required for school transport vehicles.

Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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728. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if blended learning and remote learning will become part of the new normal going forward; her views on whether special needs assistants, SNAs, should be compensated financially towards the cost of Internet, wear and tear on devices, printer, paper and ink, postage costs, heating, electricity and sundries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20820/20]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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In accordance with Government policy it is my Department's position that all schools will re-open for all pupils at the commencement of the upcoming school year.

Information on arrangements relating to remotely working from home (eWorking) are available on www.revenue.ie.

Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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730. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the measures that will be in place to address the limitations of visually impaired students regarding social distancing (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20822/20]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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My Department has now published its roadmap to the Full Reopening of schools, "COVID-19 Response Plan for the safe and sustainable reopening of Primary and Special Schools".

This roadmap sets outs how schools will reopen for all students, including students with special educational needs, from the end of August.

It provides details of a range of Additional Supports which will be made available to schools to implement their Covid-19 Response Plan and to operate in a sustainable way.

The roadmap also notes that the Department is also making additional provision for special schools and special classes, in recognition of the particular challenges that these schools and classes will face dealing with children with complex medical and care needs.

Full details of the supports for the reopening of schools is available at

The Roadmap provides details of a range of Additional Supports which will be made available to schools to implement their Covid-19 Response Plan and to operate in a sustainable way.  These supports include:

- An enhanced Minor Works Grant to support full implementation of COVID-19 response plans;

- Employing an aide to help with the school re-opening logistics;

- Additional financial supports to provide for additional cleaning, hand hygiene and PPE costs under the COVID-19 response plans;

- Increased management support to primary schools;

- Extending the current pilot supply panel for substitute teachers on a nationwide basis; at primary school level;

- 1,080 additional teaching posts at post primary school level including 120 guidance posts;

- Enhanced supervision supports for post primary schools.

All of these measures will support the return of children with special educational needs to schools in August.

However, the Department is also making additional provision for special schools and special classes, in recognition of the particular challenges that these schools and classes will face dealing with children with complex medical and care needs.

Additional NEPS psychologists will be appointed to provide enhanced services to support the wellbeing of our school communities at this time, with a particular emphasis on the wellbeing of our special school communities.

Special schools will receive funding equivalent to 10 days, for the purposes of employing an aide to assist with the logistics for preparing for reopening.

The Minor Works Grant at Primary and Post Primary level include enhanced rates in respect of students in special classes and schools. This will facilitate preparatory works to be completed in schools to facilitate reopening such as refurbishment of toilets and reconfiguration of school spaces.

The additional per capita funding being provided for pupils in special schools and special classes recognises the additional needs that these pupils have and the additional measures that schools may be required to take to support them.

Special schools and schools with special classes where there is a teaching principal will receive one release day per week. Those schools with admin Deputy Principals will be provided with 16 release days.

The Department is also supporting the replacement of all absences of SNAs in school settings.

Enhanced COVID-19 rates are payable in respect of students attending special schools and special classes attached to mainstream schools to assist with the extra costs associated with the cleaning of classrooms with a small number of students, operating specialist provision.

The COVID-19 capitation grant will also be the mechanism through which additional funding will be provided to cater for costs related to hand hygiene measures and PPE requirements under the COVID-19 Response Plan.  Additional provision for this purpose will be confirmed with the establishment of the drawdown framework of suppliers

For the Special Education Transport Service, funding supports will be made available to schools for the provision of masks or visors to School Bus Escorts where required, bearing in mind the SEN needs of the child/children on the service, and where physical distancing cannot be maintained.

It is also recognised that pupils with SEN will require particular support at the time of transition back to school including supporting their well-being, reducing potential anxiety and planning learning experiences that take account of the effect of school closures on their progress.

Approximately 15,000 pupils with SEN will have availed of the Department supported summer provision and all records of progress for these children, whether the programmes were delivered in school or home settings will be available to their schools to support planning for their needs in the new term.

Finally it is recognised that some children who have complex medical or special educational needs may not be able to return to school at the end of August because the relevant public health guidelines indicate they are at "very high risk".

These students' schools will provide additional supports for these students through designated teachers from within the staffing resources of the school

Schools will have discretion to manage and redistribute their teaching support resources in order to best meet the learning needs of their pupils/students, including pupils/students at "very high risk" to COVID-19.

During the period of school closures the Department provided schools in the primary and special school sector and at post-primary level with a series of "Continuity of Schooling Guidance" documents to help education professionals and parents to support children learning in a remote environment.  The events surrounding COVID-19 and the public health restrictions which resulted in the emergency closure of schools to learners has highlighted the absolute necessity for schools to be agile in how they can provide for continuity of teaching and learning in the future.

The continuity of teaching and learning during the emergency period was achieved with significant additional effort from all school staff working remotely to ensure students were supported during this time.  Most schools put in place arrangements to communicate with students and parents demonstrating innovation and resilience by providing flexible local responses.

The Department is updating its Continuity of Schooling Guidance documents to support schools in responding in an agile way in the event of localised school closure or to continue to support pupils with medical or special educational needs who cannot attend school.

Guidance will also provide for additional strategies to support children with ASD where it is likely that the impact of school closures will have been significant so that learning experiences, routines and sensory needs should be carefully planned.

The return to school package includes enhanced allocations to support children, including children with special educational needs such as visual impairment, to be able to return safely for the forthcoming school year.

Many children with visual impairment receive additional care support from Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) in schools, who provide support for mobility and orientation needs in school. Pupils with visual impairment will continue to be supported by SNAs on school reopening and taking into account the context of any revised arrangements put in place by schools to support social distancing measures.

Many pupils with visual impairment also attend special classes or special schools, which have significantly lower pupil teacher ratios, and which therefore have greater capacity to support social distancing. 

Details of the manner in which schools are recommended to provide for social distancing measures are set out in roadmap to the Full Reopening of schools.