Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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431. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if school-specific contact tracing teams remain in place to support schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7662/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Contact tracing remains in place for primary school age children who are household close contacts. Any child who is identified by the HSE as a household close contact has to restrict their movements and not attend school except for those who have recovered from COVID-19 following a positive PCR or antigen test carried out since December 1st 2021.

In addition from the end of November 2021, antigen testing was introduced in primary schools in circumstances where children are part of a classroom pod and 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 day period, antigen testing will be offered to every child in the class. In the case of special schools, where there is a confirmed case of COVID-19 in a class, antigen testing will be offered to every child in the class.

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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432. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the action she has taken to support school principals who continue to navigate Covid-19 cases in their schools. [7663/22]

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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433. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the Covid-19 mitigation measures she is implementing to ensure safety in school settings. [7664/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 432 and 433 together.

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. Schools continue to operate in line with their Covid-19 Response Plans, which set out a range of mitigation measures focused on keeping Covid-19 out of schools and reducing the risk of the spread of infection in schools. These measures have worked very effectively to prevent and control Covid-19 in schools and to protect pupils/students, their parents and school staff.

The Covid-19 capitation grant continues to be the mechanism through which funding will be provided for school costs related to the implementation of infection prevention and control measures. The Department of Education has committed to ensuring that the full range of measures necessary to allow schools operate safely in the Covid-19 environment will continue to be available for the 2021/22 school year and has provided a further €109 million to date.

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 that no-one with new onset symptoms attend school, and that all recommended infection prevention and control measures are in place in line with the 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. Any changes to public health advice for schools will be communicated to schools.

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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434. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the review of mask-wearing by students in school settings. [7665/22]

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. Current public health advice makes it a requirement for a face mask to be worn by teachers, staff in schools, students attending post-primary school, and students from third class upwards in primary school. These measures protect students/pupils, their parents and school staff and are very effective when adhered to.

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. Any changes to public health advice for schools will be communicated to schools.