Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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47. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if rapid testing for Covid-19 will be arranged for childcare sector workers in line with testing arrangements for teachers and staff in schools. [22246/20]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The issue of prioritised Covid-19 testing for the childcare sector is one that my Department has raised with the HSE. The advice from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) in the HSE at this point in time is that fast tracked testing is not required or appropriate.

Expert guidance on the safe reopening of Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare services during the COVID-19 pandemic, published by the HPSC, notes that where testing is arranged for a child or staff member, it is done “through the usual pathway unless there is a specific clinical reason for prioritised testing.” The HSE has advised that turnaround on testing and tracing is well in line with international practice and experiences.

While there is currently no process in place to automatically “fast track” testing for staff or children in early learning and childcare services, officials in my Department are keeping the matter under review. I have also raised at senior levels and will continue to actively monitor the situation. My officials are also liaising with officials in the Departments of Education and Skills and Health to ensure that approaches in both education and childcare sectors are aligned where appropriate.