Decisions on shutting down schools in response to COVID-19 outbreaks will not be left to teachers and principals.

The Minister for Education Norma Foley joined the Pat Kenny Show this morning to discuss preparations for reopening as children around the country begin to go back to school.

She said any decision on how to respond to a confirmed case will be made by public health doctors.

“No teacher, no principal, no member of the school community will make a decision about shutting down,” she said. “Absolutely not. That is a determination of public health.

“We will not deviate from the practice that is operating in every other workplace. No principal will be burdened with making that decision because the principal will not have the personal medical experience nor expertise.

“We are very clear that when an issue arises that is matter of public health, public health will adjudicate upon it. To do otherwise would not be acceptable within the Department of Education.”

The Taoiseach Micheál Martin with the Education Minister Norma Foley at Scoil Fiachra National School with Principal Kieran Creaner, 26-08-2020. Image: Julien Behal

She said the procedures schools should follow if a child becomes sick during the day are “very clear.”

“At that point the principle makes contact with the parent or guardian,” she said. “The student is now in the isolation area.

“The child is collected and then the GP, in consultation with the parent or guardian, makes a decision on whether it should necessitate a test or not.

“Again remember, this is what we have to be very clear about, children by their nature will take ill. It may have something to do with COVID-19, it may not at all. It may have nothing to do with it.

“The GP will adjudicate that and if a test is required, a test will take place. Then, if it is a positive diagnosis, public health will take over in the school as regards what to do next.

“Until there is an adjudication that it is a positive test school will continue because it may or may not be COVID-19.”

"We will see new friends and we'll learn something new," There was great excitement at Holy Child Boys School Larkhill this morning as the kids finally returned to school.@HenryMcKean's report was on @PatKennyNT earlier. pic.twitter.com/mDFLnHYCEZ

— NewstalkFM (@NewstalkFM) August 27, 2020

She said public health will advise parents whether they need to self-isolate or present for testing if there is a case in a school.

“There is a question of being a contact and then being a contact of a contact,” she said. “So, the adjudication, in terms of what happens in the family unit, will be made by public health.”

The Taoiseach Micheál Martin at Scoil Fiachra Junior National School with Principal Áine Carberry, 26-08-2020. Image: Julien Behal

Minister Foley said her department is engaging with a school in Westmeath after it emerged it was planning to use a garden shed as an isolation facility.

Clonbonny National School near Athlone said it had no choice but to use the shed due to a lack of extra space for COVID infrastructure.

“I will not in any shape or form disagree with you that does not in any shape or form appear to me as being an example of best practice and it is not,” she said.

“My department is engaging with the school in relation to issues that are being raised there but equally, I could point to the very, very many schools – and again, bearing in mind that we have 4,000 schools – where there are superb examples.

“I believe the exception should not be a reflection of what is happening in the vast majority of the 4,000 schools throughout the country.”

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