Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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756. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will make accommodations during the Covid-19 pandemic for primary and secondary school teachers who are pregnant to be absent or reassigned to teach their pupils online; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1073/22]

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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777. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the measures that are in place to support and protect pregnant teachers and staff in school environments; if consideration has been given to providing pregnant and vulnerable school staff with the opportunity to work from home; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1216/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 756 and 777 together.

My Department’s Circular Letter 0042/2021 details the current working arrangements and leave arrangements during the COVID-19 pandemic for teachers and special needs assistants employed in recognised primary and post primary schools. This Circular should be read in conjunction with Information Note TC 0001/2022 which was published on 18th January.

The most up to date guidance in respect of pregnant employees and higher risk employees, for the education sector, was published by the HSE in July 2021 and authored by the Civil Service Chief Medical Officer, Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Public Health Medicine in HSE and Medmark Occupational Healthcare (OHS). As with all other guidelines around public health measures, my Department has been led by expert medical advice provided by the Government through the HSE and other relevant public bodies. In the particular case of advice around pregnant employees, this advice was prepared in consultation with the Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, the national professional and training body for Obstetrics and Gynaecology in Ireland, as well as other medical and public health professionals. This HSE guidance was reviewed by these medical experts in December 2021.

The HSE guidance for the education sector confirms that pregnant teachers can safely attend the workplace in school, where all the infection prevention and control measures are in place by the implementation of the School COVID-19 Response Plan.

All teachers apply to the Occupational Health Service (OHS) before the end of their first trimester, so that their individual medical circumstances can be assessed in the context of COVID-19. Those with underlying medical conditions may be categorised as ‘Very High Risk’ and be facilitated to work remotely i.e. work from home. The COVID-19 health risk categorisation assessments are performed by a team of qualified and experienced specialists in occupational medicine. Available medical evidence, including reports from treating consultants as well as vaccination status of teachers, are considered during the OHS COVID-19 health risk categorisation assessment process.

In relation to higher risk employees, where a teacher considers they are at very high risk of serious illness from contracting COVID-19, they must follow the process detailed at paragraph 4.1 of Circular 0042/2021. They must complete a COVID-19 Risk Assessment Questionnaire and submit it to the Occupational Health Service. A teacher who considers the OHS ‘COVID-19 Health Risk Categorisation Report’ places them in an incorrect risk category, may request a review. The OHS will re-evaluate the medical evidence provided. The teacher may provide additional medical evidence as part of the review process.

It is open to a pregnant teacher to discuss their individual medical concerns with their own medical team. Where their treating consultant has concerns over their fitness to work due to a pregnancy-related illness, then the terms and conditions of the Sick Leave Scheme (pregnancy-related illness provisions) may apply, outside of the very specific COVID-19 health risk categorisation assessment by the OHS referred to above.