Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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1074. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position in relation to teachers who are in the high-risk category and have received their vaccination and wish to return to work if Medmark does not take the vaccine into account in the context of its back-to-work strategy for teachers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20444/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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With regard to the ‘Very High Risk’ teachers who have received the COVID-19 vaccination, my Department awaits HSE/NPHET advice before any changes are made to their current remote working arrangements.

The general principles to apply to the management of COVID-19 includes the safety and welfare of teachers and other school staff 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 0021/2021.

My Department has an enhanced Occupational Health Service (OHS) in place, to provide employers with occupational health advice in relation to teacher’s 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 a teacher 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 ‘Normal Risk’, High Risk’, and ‘Very High Risk’. The outcome of the risk categorisation is governed by the latest HSE guidance.

Based on HSE advice, a teacher categorised by the OHS as ‘Very High Risk’ currently 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. A teacher in the ‘High Risk’ group who is not ill must attend the workplace.