Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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117. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a return to school form will be considered similar to the one used for the GAA return to play (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25733/20]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has published a suite of helpful guidance for the safe and sustainable reopening of schools. This guidance was developed in line with public health advice issued by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC), the government’s Roadmap for Society and Business, and follows comprehensive and intensive engagement with education stakeholders including the school management bodies and staff representatives.

Each school is required to have a COVID-19 Response Plan. The purpose of the COVID-19 Response Plan is to provide clear and helpful guidance for the safe operation through the prevention, early detection and control of COVID-19 in schools. It provides key messages to minimise the risk of COVID-19 for staff, pupils, families and the wider community while recognising the importance of education for the health and wellbeing of pupils and society as a whole.

Advice for schools on the COVID-19 Response Plans for schools published at www.gov.ie/backtoschool.

Staff returning to work must have completed a return to work form on school reopening and they are no plans to introduce a daily return to work form for schools. My Department is working to closely with Public Health Authorities to provide the most up-to-date to schools on an ongoing basis.