Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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515. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if provisions have been or are being made to provide PPE for persons returning to school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21617/20]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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As set out in the Roadmap for the Full Return to School, to ensure access for schools, on a value for money basis, to a secure supply chain for any Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), Consumables and Equipment associated with COVID-19 Response Plans, the Department has established, following a procurement process, a multi-supplier arrangement from which schools can choose suppliers and products which best suit their needs.

All PPE, consumables and equipment requirements of schools under the Roadmap and with schools COVID-19 Response Plans, and in line with the public health advice, will be available through the Supply Arrangement including:

- Hand sanitiser dispensers;

- Hand sanitiser liquid;

- Hand soap;

- Disposable Paper Towels;

- Wipes;

- Gloves;

- Face masks

- Face coverings

- Face visors;

- Aprons; and

- Detergents etc.

An information pack has been emailed directly to all schools, including a User Guide, which sets out the steps schools should follow when purchasing goods from suppliers under the Supply Arrangement. Further guidance documents for Primary School/Special Schools and Post Primary School on on PPE, Consumables and Equipment was also published on the www.gov.ie/backtoschools on August 7th 2020. This included guidance to schools in identifying the potential volumes of PPE and consumables which they may require in line with their COVID-19 Response Plan.

More than €30 million of capitation supports has been made available to primary and post primary schools to fund its PPE/Hand Sanitiser requirements up to the end of the year.

This capitation grant rate up to the end of 2020, reflects the fact that there are a number of once off type costs which schools face in implementing COVID-19 Response Plans (i.e. installation of sanitiser units, signage/posters etc.) which will be incurred upfront. The COVID-19 Capitation Grant for 2021 up to the remainder of the school year, will be confirmed in December following review/monitor of usage in schools in the period up to the end of the year

Primary Level Capitation Grant

A COVID-19 Capitation Grant for PPE, Consumables and Equipment of €25 per pupil, with an enhanced rate of €100 per pupil attending a special school or attending a special class attached to a mainstream school will apply to fund school costs in this regard from reopening until the end of 2020 will apply.

Post-Primary Level Capitation Grant

A COVID-19 Capitation Grant for PPE, Consumables and Equipment of €40 per pupil, with an enhanced rate of €160 for students in special classes will issue to fund school costs in this regard from reopening until the end of 2020.

It is important to note that the COVID-19 Capitation Grant is specifically provided to support schools in minimising the risk of spread of infection of COVID-19. This COVID-19 Capitation Grant for PPE, Consumables and Equipment is ring-fenced funding provided to schools for the purchase of appropriate PPE, consumables and equipment required by schools in minimising the risk of spread of infection of COVID-19 in line with the Roadmap, public health advice, Return to Work Safely Protocol and their COVID-19 Response Plan and should only be used for that purpose. This includes PPE and consumables which may have been purchased by schools from sources outside of the Supply Arrangement established by the Department.

Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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516. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the way in which a three teacher school (details supplied) with 82 pupils, which is one pupil short of the 83 pupils needed to fit the criteria for a four teacher school will be able to maintain the social distancing requirements as set out in the protocols for the reopening of schools; if an exception will be made in the case in order to employ an extra teacher even on a temporary basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21628/20]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Roadmap for Full Return to School set outs the plan for the safe and sustainable reopening of our schools. 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 providing capital and current funding of an additional €377 million to support implementation of the roadmap. The supports are comprehensive across a range of areas and involve funding for measures such as PPE, hand sanitisation, enhanced cleaning and hygiene, physical distancing, management supports and substitution provision. It is also recognised that schools may require some reconfiguration works and this is supported by a once off enhanced minor works grant of €75 million to prepare their buildings and classrooms for reopening including an uplift for schools with SEN pupils.

The public health guidance recognises that the ability to achieve 1m physical distancing for junior infants to 2^ndclasses is not a prerequisite for facilitating a full return of all pupils. While there is the requirement for 1m physical distancing for the senior classes (3^rdclass to 6^thclass) schools also have the flexibility to organise their classes into bubbles and pods. The requirement in the public health guidance is for each pod to be 1m apart as distinct from each pupil in the pods.

My Department has published practical guidance for schools to help achieve physical distancing in line with public health advice and include:

- Reconfiguring classroom accommodation through the removal of unnecessary items of furniture, shelving etc.

- Using the largest classrooms for the senior classes

- Reviewing the size of each class so that there is a more even spread of pupils between each class

- Maximising available space within the footprint of the school

- If necessary, look at opportunities for sourcing any nearby accommodation for a large class e.g. parish hall, sports facilities etc. The Department supports same through the minor works grant and additional funding can be provided where necessary.

The public health advice recognises that the implementation of physical distancing will look different across the various ages and stages of learning and that a balanced and common sense approach should be applied in the implementation of measures, allowing for some flexibility when needed whilst noting that it must be applied in a practical way, recognising that the learning environment cannot be dominated by a potentially counterproductive focus on this issue.

While my Department has been in contact with a number of schools recently in an advisory capacity, including the school referred to by the Deputy, a reply will issue in the coming days in relation to individual requests received. Schools will be advised that they will have an option of an appeal to the Primary Staffing Appeals Board should they continue to experience difficulties, having first taken measures necessary to achieve physical distancing in line with published guidance.

Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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517. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the procedures in place for the resuming of practical subjects in secondary schools and the logistics of running home economic classes when the schools reopen in view of the fact that the roadmap omitted these complex subjects and teachers have received no guidance in relation to restarting; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21631/20]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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My Department recently published guidance for post primary schools ‘Return to School Guidance for Practical Subjects in Post-Primary Schools and Centres for Education’ in relation to subjects that involve using equipment in order to support the safe implementation of the practical aspects of those subjects. This guidance aligns with the public health advice provided by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) for the safe reopening of schools and educational facilities

This guidance is available on my Department’s website