Written answers

Wednesday, 14 October 2020

Department of Education and Skills

Covid-19 Pandemic

Photo of Gary GannonGary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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73. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the measures being advised for students in primary and secondary schools who have family members at home with severe underlying health conditions that would place their lives at risk should an incident of Covid-19 occur in their schools (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23680/20]

Photo of Norma FoleyNorma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is aware that some parents and children will have concerns about returning to school. My Department has 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 students on their return to school.

The HPSC has produced guidance in relation to the return to school for at risk groups. It outlines that children with immediate family members, including parents, in both the ‘high risk’ and ‘very high risk’ categories can return to school and it is important for the child’s overall well-being.

This is consistent with public health advice internationally in relation to at-risk family members. The guidance is available at the following link.

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, which has been highly effective to date. Schools are proving to be safe places for children and this is recognised by public health teams who have acknowledged that schools are successfully implementing the HPSC recommendations and keeping transmission levels very low.

The key priority however is that the household continues to follow all current advice on how to minimise the risk of coronavirus, through regular hand washing, cough etiquette etc.

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