Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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125. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department received a correspondence submission from a group (details supplied) of 15 Irish music schools making a formal submission regarding the Covid-19 guidelines; and if her Department will engage with the group. [39244/20]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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My Department’s responsibilities include recognised primary or post-primary schools and include centres for education as defined in the Education Act, 1998. My remit does not extend to private organisations, groups or bodies that are not recognised as schools or centres of education by the Education Act or in relation to the provision of higher or further education which is the responsibility of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. Music schools are not recognised schools as set out by the Education Act.

My Department has engaged with the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media in relation to the particular concern of music classes in schools. The position is that in person drama classes, dance classes and music classes are suspended between levels 3 and 5 of the Government’s Plan for Living with COVID-19.

Education is, however, considered an essential service under the Health Act 1947 (Section 31A-Temporary Restrictions) (COVID-19) (No.8) Regulations 2020, which give effect to the level 5 restrictions under the Plan. Under Part 2 of the schedule to the regulations, essential education encompasses primary and post-primary schools, and higher and further education where remote learning is not possible.

As such, some drama, music and dance lessons may take place where they are required to comply with the national curriculum for primary and post-primary education. For these classes, schools are required to ensure that infection prevention control measures are in place in line with the School’s COVID-19 response plan and public health advice to limit the risk of spread of infection.

These arrangements do not include classes which are extra-curricular classes i.e. those which an individual is pursuing outside of the school day for their own personal development or are courses of additional study outside of the school day but which relate to the curriculum e.g. grinds.