Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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522. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the total number of days lost by secondary and primary school teachers due to illness since schools reopened in September 2020, by week; and the comparative figures for September, October and November 2019. [38787/20]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The terms and conditions of the Sick Leave Scheme for teachers is contained in my Department’s Circular Letter 0054/2019. In line with the Sick Leave Scheme, absences are recorded by the individual employer on my Department’s On Line Claims System (OLCS) which is part of the payroll system.

The attached table details the total number of Sick Leave days currently recorded on the OLCS for primary and post teachers for the period September to November 2019 and for the period September to 23 November, 2020. These figures exclude ETB teachers as they are not paid on my Department’s payroll system.

It is not possible to provide a weekly breakdown of the Sick Leave figures, as requested by the Deputy.

Sick Leave Record for Primary and Post Primary Teachers (excluding ETBs)

Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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523. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the total number of days lost by primary and secondary schools teachers as a result of isolating as a result of close contact with a positive Covid-19 case for the weeks since schools reopened in September 2020. [38788/20]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The current COVID-19 arrangements in place for teachers are outlined in my Department’s Circular Letter 0049/2020.

The Circular outlines that special leave with pay may be granted to a teacher 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 a teacher 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 lives with a person who has COVID-19 symptoms. A teacher who has been advised to restrict his/her movements and is medically fit for work, remains available for work and the employer must therefore facilitate alternative working arrangements to the maximum extent possible e.g. working from home.

Circular 0049/2020 also caters for a teacher who has been categorised by the Occupational Health Service as at a very high risk of serious illness from contracting COVID-19. Based on HSE advice, this teacher must not attend the workplace. However he/she remains available for work and the employer should prioritise alternative working arrangements to the maximum extent possible e.g. working from home.

Where a teacher is on COVID-19 special leave with pay, the employer may appoint a substitute, paid by the Department/ETB. Similarly, where a teacher is on restricted movement or categorised in the very high risk group and is working from home, the employer may appoint a substitute, paid by the Department/ETB.

As at 13 November, 2020 a total of 56,883 days have been recorded for the above COVID-19 categories in respect of primary and post primary teachers for the 2020/21 school year. This excludes ETB teachers as they are not paid on my Department’s payroll system.

Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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524. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the total number of days lost due to illness by pupils in secondary and primary schools since reopening and the comparative figures for the months of September, October and November 2019. [38789/20]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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In accordance with the requirements of the Governance Manual for Primary Schools 2019 - 2023 the school principal is responsible for the day-to-day management of the school and is accountable for that management to the school’s Board of Management. One of the important management functions of the principal is the maintenance of records in relation to pupil attendance in accordance with my Department’s circulars and the Education Welfare Act 2000.

These records are retained at school level and my Department does not collect data in relation to pupil absences requested by the Deputy.