Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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75. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the resumption of in-person tuition and related activities; the measures that will be put in place to support students who are immunocompromised following the lifting of most public health restrictions in January 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5977/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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On 21st January, the Government announced the lifting of a number of restrictions previously in place to curb the rate of infection and transmission of COVID19. On that basis, planning for the opening up of society, including the further education, higher education and research sector, has commenced.

Arising from the announcement, institutions have been advised that there should be an ongoing and continuing emphasis on the promotion and use of individual responsibility and personal protective measures including hand washing, hand sanitizing, respiratory etiquette and use of masks in appropriate circumstances based on individual and sectoral risk assessments. Institutions will highlight and encourage the importance of exercising individual responsibility in relation to personal protective measures to underpin the opportunities for increased onsite activity now presenting across the higher and further education and research system. Formal requirements for physical distancing in hospitality settings and in general have also been removed and institutions may proceed to plan for increased levels of activity on that basis.

The Safe Return Plan supports this approach and continues to provide a comprehensive framework for institutions to plan for the provision of significant on-site activity and a broader student experience fully supported by public health authorities and has the requisite flexibility to allow institutions to adjust activities for greater levels of on-site activity. In this way, institutions can now take opportunities to expand and intensify on-site learning in the phased way that is envisaged and institutions have been advised that the framework should be utilised in a way that enables this.

As part of the ongoing national strategy, staff and students should be aware of the importance of following public health guidance in relation to self-isolation for cases and restricted movements for close contacts. In line with that guidance, those experiencing symptoms should not attend their educational institution and should immediately self-isolate and arrange for testing. In addition, there will be a continued strong emphasis on maximizing the vaccination uptake for both primary and booster vaccines. Staff and students are encouraged to avail of primary and booster vaccinations given the critical importance of vaccinations in offering protection against infection and transmission of the virus.

Each institution will adapt to the changes in the public health environment in a phased manner and arising from local consultation, and I have emphasized that clear communications by institutions will be key to alleviating any concerns that staff and students have. Collaboration and consideration, which have been a feature of the sector’s response to the pandemic thus far, will continue to play a key role in ensuring that we can all work together to ensure that the further and higher education and research sector can continue to operate safely.

During the pandemic, institutions and providers put in place a range of policies and procedures to support staff and students deemed to be at a higher risk of Covid or for whom vaccination is medically contraindicated. Such staff and students should continue to engage with their institutions and providers in relation to available accommodations as appropriate to their individual circumstances.