Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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716. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools that have closed again since schools reopened due to Covid-19 clusters; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32478/20]

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’

This guidance provides that the HSE Department of Public Health will liaise directly with schools regarding any actions to be taken following a Public Health Risk Assessment.

As of 29 October a total of 611 education facilities (primary, post primary and special education facilities) have undergone mass testing following Public Health Risk Assessment.

The positivity rate of close contacts testing in educational facilities including primary, post-primary and special educational needs facilities as of 29/10/20 is 2.6% with 15,774 close contacts tested. This low positivity rate has led to a very small number of schools closing for periods of a short duration.

It is the view of Public Health that the evidence available to date shows that schools are proving to be safe spaces for children and for the staff. Schools are working hard to implement the public health advice which is proving to be effective in keeping transmission levels in schools so low.