Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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104. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the guidelines for the substitution of teachers who are within vulnerable groups from a Covid-19 perspective; and the way in which an individual teacher can activate the process. [6052/21]

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 teachers are outlined in my Department’s Circular Letter 0049/2020.

My Department has an enhanced Occupational Health Service (OHS) in place, to provide employers with occupational health advice in relation to employees’ fitness for work.  The current OHS provider has a process in place for school staff with health concerns about their risk of serious illness from contracting COVID-19, through workplace attendance.

A detailed on-line questionnaire is submitted by the teacher to the OHS, along with detailed medical evidence to provide clarity with respect to the medical complaint(s) in question.  All of this information is reviewed by the OHS specialist occupational health physician, including the combined and cumulative risk that can arise when an employee suffers from more than one health condition.   The risk categorisation is comprehensive and follows the same process that is being applied across other sectors.  A teacher is categorised into one of three COVID-19 risk categories.  These are general population risk, high risk, and very high risk. The outcome of the risk categorisation is governed by the HSE guidance.  My Department is following the same guidance that is in use across the public sector. 

Where a teacher considers the OHS "Covid-19 Health Risk Categorisation report" places him/her in an incorrect risk category, he/she may request review. The teacher may provide additional medical evidence as part of the review process. 

Based on HSE advice, a teacher categorised by the OHS as ‘very high risk’ 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.   The employer may appoint a substitute, paid by my Department, to replace the ‘very high risk’ teacher in the classroom.  During the current school closure period, a substitute may not be appointed by the employer for the ‘very high risk’ teacher, as all teachers currently available for work, are working remotely at this time. 

All employers are required to have a COVID-19 Response Plan in place.  The Plan outlines the arrangements in place to ensure a safe workplace for all employees.   A teacher deemed ‘high risk’ and ‘normal risk’ can attend the workplace safely, where the school is implementing the COVID-19 Response Plan and the health advice for schools.  The employer has a responsibility to assess the school environment using the COVID-19 Response Plan for the school, to ensure that all the appropriate HSE recommendations for safe school operations during Covid-19 are being implemented in full.

There is an obligation on the employer to discuss the COVID-19 Response Plan with the teacher and ensure that all appropriate risk mitigation measures are in place for the protection of school employees.

Every school has at least 1 Lead Worker Representative whose role is to represent staff and who may consult with, and make representations to school management on any issue of concern in relation to COVID-19, including issues relating to at risk groups.