Written answers

Wednesday, 16 June 2021

Department of Education and Skills

Covid-19 Pandemic

Photo of Marc MacSharryMarc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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195. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the process that will be undertaken by his Department for the procurement of antigen tests for third-level institutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32242/21]

Photo of Simon HarrisSimon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The intention of Government is to strengthen the prevention and intervention measures around COVID-19 in response to the changing context including surveillance, track and trace, and potential use of new technology. My Department recognises that as one part of a package of surveillance and vigilance measures, including other public health non-pharmaceutical interventions, there is a potential role for rapid antigen testing.

My Department has provided its support to the initiation of a Science Foundation Ireland study to test this objective. A new research project, ‘Multi-site study to develop a SARS-CoV-2 Infection Surveillance System for Third Level Students and Staff in the Republic of Ireland’, known as UniCoV, begins this week across four universities.

It is intended that the outcomes of this research project will inform the development of early warning systems for future outbreak prevention and control. It is also intended that the outcomes of this research project will inform SARS-CoV-2 infection rapid testing and surveillance systems in further and Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) in Ireland.

Should the study recommend use of antigen tests in third-level institutions, all relevant procurement guidelines will be complied with, as appropriate.

Photo of John LahartJohn Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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196. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the plans he and his Department have for the safe return of schools for lecturers and students for the next academic year in respect of indoor ventilation to combat the Covid-19 pandemic taking account of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment's recently published Work Safety Protocol; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32302/21]

Photo of Simon HarrisSimon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Following Government approval, I have published A Safe Return: Plan for a safe return to on-site Further and Higher Education and Research in 2021/22. The Safe Return Plan can be accessed here:

The Plan reflects the essential nature of higher and further education and training, and research activities, and in that context, provides for comprehensive on-site activity for the next academic year, with almost full scale on-site activities.

At a very minimum, workshops, tutorials, classroom based activities and smaller lectures will be allowed and libraries, research facilities and labs will be opened. Institutions and providers will continue to put in place plans to ensure that the overall number of people on campus at a given time continues to be moderated.

Under the Plan, larger scale lectures will take place on-site if the public health situation continues to improve as expected but some moderation in numbers may still be required. The safety measures which will be in place such as social distancing, face masks and indoor ventilation will be in accordance with prevailing public health advice taking into account the essential nature of further and higher education and research.

In addition, contingency planning based on a more restrictive public health environment is also being prepared by the sector. Even in a more restrictive public health environment, it is envisaged that there would still be significant on-site activities.

The Plan will operate along with and be supported by:

- The COVID-19 Adaptation Framework for further and higher education

- The Practical Guidance for Further and Higher Education (to be updated in line with prevailing public health advice).

- Sectoral guidance (to be updated in line with prevailing public health advice)

- The Sectoral Pact as outlined in Section 5 of the plan

- The Work Safety Protocol published by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

- The Government Plan - COVID – 19 Resilience and Recovery: The Path Ahead

In the interim period leading to the return in autumn 2021, sectoral planning will be reviewed monthly with an update on planning to be provided to Government in July. This will ensure that there is ongoing support for planning in this sector and that planning proceeds in a manner that is aligned to prevailing public health advice.

Photo of John LahartJohn Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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197. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the measures he is considering to allow for the resumption of face-to-face classes for the English language education sector; if he will engage with stakeholders in this sector to ensure that the reopening of this sector is done is a collaborative way; if he has considered a vaccine passport dedicated to foreign students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32305/21]

Photo of Simon HarrisSimon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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In March 2020, my Department established a distinct Working Group with key stakeholders for the English Language Education (ELE) sector to manage the significant impact of the pandemic on ELE. This Working Group is comprised of the sectoral representatives of students, staff and providers alongside representatives of relevant Government Departments such as the Department of Justice, the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Social Protection.

This Working Group is planning for a limited, safe return of on-site activity, which comprises small group in-person learning to cater exclusively for needs of the existing cohort of ELE students currently in the State. This approach for on-site activity is consistent with small group learning across further, higher and adult education. To enable this to happen, all existing restrictions and public health guidance with appropriate protective measures and limited congregation will be followed supported by reopening protocols and an adaptation framework that are aligned with public health guidelines to facilitate and ensure the safe return to classroom activity for this cohort of students. The Working Group has worked collaboratively to develop these sectoral reopening protocols and supporting materials and this work is now nearing finalisation.

This approach notes the sector is much reduced with estimates placing student numbers at less than 10,000 currently in the State in comparison to pre-pandemic levels where the sector has capacity to facilitate approximately 200,000 foreign learners annually.

Prospective ELE learners in the State not previously enrolled and students who are not currently in the country are not included in these planned on site activities.

ELE providers have been advised that there remains no basis for the recruitment of new international students who might travel to the country at this time. However, the initial resumption of in-person activity will represent a key step on the pathway to recovery for the ELE sector in Ireland. My Department will continue to engage with ELE stakeholders as this sector moves, aligned with public health advice, including any such advice in relation to international travel, towards its full re-opening and continues on a path to recovery.

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