Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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232. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if it is possible to expand the remote learning option to children with at-risk members of their household; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37633/20]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Health Protection Surveillance Centre and the HSE have published guidance in relation to the return to school for at risk groups.  This guidance provides that children with immediate family members, including parents, in both the ‘high risk’ and ‘very high risk’ categories can return to school and that this 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 best way to protect against COVID-19 is for households to continue to follow all current public health advice on how to minimise the risk of infection. This includes regular hand washing, cough etiquette and social distancing.  

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 staff. Transmission rates of Covid-19 in schools are low, much lower than the rate currently in the community. This is clearly a result of the effectiveness of the public health guidelines for schools and most importantly the successful implementation of those guidelines by the school community.   

My Department has also developed and prepared a comprehensive response to supporting the well-being of school communities at this time. The National Educational Psychological Service is also working with schools to support them to meet the needs of their pupils particularly those who are anxious at this time.

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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233. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of full school closures that have occurred since reopening due to the Covid-19 pandemic; the length of time schools were to close for; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37710/20]

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 16 November a total of 731 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 this date is 2.5% with 19,264 close contacts tested. This low positivity rate has led in the main to a group of students or a class having to restrict their movements in line with public health advice rather than school closures. The comparable rate in the community is 10%.

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.