Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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58. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the levels of days lost by staff in primary and secondary schools as a result of Covid-19-related issues; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40017/20]

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 employees in primary and post primary schools are outlined in my Department’s Circular Letters which are available on my Department’s website.

These Circulars outline that special leave with pay may be granted to an employee 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 Circulars cater for an employee 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. An employee 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.

The Circulars also caters for an employee 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 employee 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 an employee is absent on COVID-19 special leave with pay or working from home where he/she has been medically advised to restrict their movements or categorised in the very high risk group, the employer may appoint a substitute, paid by the Department/ETB.

It is the position that employees must adhere to the current HSE advice in relation to COVID-19, which may result in an employee’s absence from work on special leave with pay or the employee working from home for the reasons outlined above.