Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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842. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will take steps to make antigen tests more widely available to primary and post-primary schools in view of the changes to the close contact rules which have come into effect in January 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2295/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Ensuring that schools can remain open and continue to operate safely has been a key priority for the Government. The Department of Education has always been guided by public health advice in relation to appropriate COVID-19 infection prevention and control measures in place in schools. These measures protect students/pupils, their parents and school staff and are very effective when adhered to.

From the end of November 2021 antigen testing has been introduced in primary schools in circumstances where children are part of a classroom pod, where there is a confirmed case of COVID-19. Offering antigen tests to children who are identified as part of a pod in which there was a confirmed case of COVID-19, is an additional measure to support parents and schools. Where there are two cases in a class in more than one pod within a seven days period, antigen testing will be provided to every child in the class. Approximately 190,000 antigen tests have been distributed to date.

Contact tracing and public health risk assessments continues in respect of children in special education settings. Contact tracing also continues for students and staff in post primary schools and arrangements are identical to those in place for confirmed cases and close contacts in the wider society.