Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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441. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a direction can be given to national schools that they can now admit children into the school yard in order to let them play before school commences now that Covid-19 restrictions have been lifted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6582/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has always been guided by public health advice in relation to appropriate COVID-19 infection prevention and control measures in place in schools. Public Health continue to advise that the two most important actions to prevent the introduction and spread of Covid-19 (and other respiratory viruses), is by ensuring no-one with new onset symptoms attend school, and that all recommended infection prevention and control measures are in place in line with school Covid-19 response plans.

Public Health have also confirmed that there is no change to infection prevention and control measures in place in schools at this time, but that they will be reviewed by mid-term in February. The infection prevention and control measures in place in schools have worked very effectively to prevent and control Covid-19 in schools.