Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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455. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the preparation that has been undertaken to facilitate urgent same-day Covid-19 tests for teachers to allow for the continuity of care of children, the building of relationships and in order to ease anxiety of both children and teachers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23995/20]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Health Protection Surveillance Centre and the HSE have published guidance for managing potential cases of COVID-19 in educational settings, which includes the testing strategy within an educational facility ‘Schools Pathway for COVID-19, the Public Health approach’ www.gov.ie/en/publication/a0bff-reopening-our-primary-and-special-schools/.

This guidance recognises that while there are confirmed cases within the community, there will be suspect or confirmed cases amongst pupils and staff with schools and sets out the arrangements for managing these possibilities.

My Department has also published a suite of helpful guidance for the safe and sustainable reopening of schools. Each school is required to have a COVID-19 Response Plan for the safe operation through the prevention, early detection and control of COVID-19 in line with public health advice. This guidance is focused on the practical steps schools must take to minimise the risk of transmission of infection. Where this arises the Medial Officer of Health and team will liaise directly with schools and carry out a public health risk assessment which will inform any further actions.

My Department has also developed and prepared a comprehensive response to supporting the wellbeing of school communities at this time. NEPS will work with schools to support them to meet the needs of their pupils/students on their return to school. Information on the wellbeing of school communities can be accessed via gov.ie - Wellbeing resources.