Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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449. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will revisit the guidance relating to close contacts of individuals with confirmed cases of Covid-19 in order to minimise disruptions to schooling; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46235/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Covid-19 Response Plans have issued directly to schools for the new school year. These plans are based on the Government’s Work Safely Protocol which reflects the most up to date public health advice for the workplace. They set out the range of measures required to prevent the spread of Covid-19 and provide clear and helpful guidance for the safe operation of school through prevention, early detection and control of Covid-19. These plans are living documents and are updated as public health guidance is updated. The infection prevention and control measures in place in schools have worked very effectively to prevent and control Covid-19 in schools and remain in place for this school year.

Policy related to Covid-19 tracing services is a matter for the Department of Health.

In line with recommendations from the National Public Health Emergency Team, which were accepted by the Minister for Health, from Monday 27 September, automatic contact tracing of asymptomatic close contacts in children aged over 3 months and less than 13 years, in schools will no longer take place. Children who are deemed to be close contacts outside of a household setting will not be routinely required to restrict their movements and be tested.

Cases and outbreaks in Special Educational Needs settings, and respite care should have a public health risk assessment (PHRA) which may still require children to be identified as close contacts in these settings, be referred for testing and have their movements restricted. Generally, the advice for those children who are close contacts in these settings will be to have one test (if possible) and if they are advised to restrict movements, it will be for 5 days.

The Department will continue to work with the HSE public health to support schools dealing with Covid-19.