Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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585. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to the cases of workers in the childcare sector who are currently pregnant; the guidelines that are in place to protect them from Covid-19 infection in view of the fact that there are protocols for teachers and special needs assistants who are pregnant to work from home presently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24539/21]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Public health advice in relation to Covid-19 and pregnancy is provided by the HSE at . This advice is based on the latest evidence available and is kept under review.

It is important to note that, at this point in time, the HSE has not categorised pregnant women as falling within the High Risk or Very High Risk groups in relation to Covid-19 ().

My Department does not have an employer role in relation to the staff in Early Learning and Care (ELC) or School-Age Childcare (SAC) services and so it cannot provide occupational health advice or services. It is a matter for individual employers to work with pregnant employees (as they do with all vulnerable employees) to assess their work environment and make relevant adjustments, as appropriate to their circumstances. In doing so they should take the HSE advice on high risk, very high risk and pregnancy into consideration.

ELC and SAC practitioners are advised to speak with their GP if they have particular concerns about their own situation.