Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independents 4 Change)
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723. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will address the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will provide guidelines to deal with the situation. [32599/20]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The general principles to apply to the management of COVID-19 includes the safety and welfare of employees and the minimisation of the impact of COVID-19 on teaching and learning.

The current COVID-19 arrangements in place for special needs assistants (SNAs) are outlined in my Department’s Circular Letter 0049/2020.

The Circular outlines that special leave with pay may be granted to an SNA who has been (a) diagnosed with COVID-19 or (b) has COVID-19 symptoms and has been advised by the HSE/GP to self-isolate whilst awaiting their test appointment and test results.

In addition, the Circular caters for an SNA who has been advised by the HSE/GP to restrict their movements, where they are a close contact of a confirmed COVID-19 case or live with a person who has COVID-19 symptoms. The SNA on restricted movement must arrange a COVID-19 test as soon as possible and remains available for work during this period. Paragraph 8 of Circular 0049/2020 states the following in relation to restricted movement:-

‘8. Restricted Movement other than following Non-Essential Travel Overseas

8.1 An employee with no COVID-19 symptoms will be medically/HSE advised to restrict his/her movements for 14 days if he/she is a close contact of a confirmed case of COVID-19 or lives with someone who has COVID-19 symptoms. This is to avoid contact with other people and social situations as much as possible. The 14 day period is from the last date of contact with the diagnosed person.

8.2 An employee who has been advised to restrict his/her movements must arrange a COVID-19 test as soon as possible.

8.3 The latest criteria for restricted movement and as updated by the HSE must be followed. The current advice on restricted movements is at: .

8.4 An employee who has been advised to restrict his/her movements must complete the Declaration Form at Appendix B and return it immediately to the employer, accompanied by medical certification (GP/HSE) and to include date of fitness to return to work. Where medical diagnosis changes, the employee must inform the employer immediately.

8.5 An employee who has been advised to restrict his/her movements and is medically fit for work, remains available for work. The employee should be assigned work for the 14 day period and the employer must therefore facilitate alternative working arrangements to the maximum extent possible e.g. working from home. All employees must cooperate with all such flexibilities while they are restricting their movements. Further details are available at paragraph 12.

8.6 Where an employee has been medically advised to restrict his/her movements, the employer may appoint a substitute, paid by the Paymaster.

8.7 An employee on restricted movement must be recorded by the employer under the OLCS leave category ‘Personal Leave’, sub-category titled ‘Covid-19: Restricted Movement’ or on the relevant ETB system.

8.8 Where an employee on restricted movement tests positive for COVID-19, paragraph 7 will apply.’

The current HSE advice in relation to living with someone who is a close contact of a COVID-19 case is as follows:-

‘You do not need to restrict your movements if you live with or have been in contact with someone who is a close contact and who has no symptoms. You can continue to go to work, school, preschool or childcare as long as you also have no symptoms.

If the close contact develops symptoms, they will need to and phone a GP. You will need to restrict your movements.

You will become a close contact yourself if they test positive for COVID-19. You will then need to restrict your movements.’

Where an employer is satisfied with the HSE/medical documentation provided by the SNA and the absence fulfils the criteria as detailed in Circular 0049/2020, the leave is recorded by the employer on my Department’s On Line Claims System (OLCS) under the appropriate leave category as detailed in the Circular.