Discussions on schools safety continue
by Bernard Harbor
 
Speaking on RTÉ radio yesterday, Fórsa’s head of education Andy Pike said 25th January may prove to be a more realistic date.
Speaking on RTÉ radio yesterday, Fórsa’s head of education Andy Pike said 25th January may prove to be a more realistic date.

Talks on the introduction of safety measures necessary to facilitate a partial reopening of primary sector special schools and special classes are continuing. The Government is seeking the partial reopening of these services from 21st January, but Fórsa and the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) have not committed to a specific date at this point.

 

Speaking on RTÉ radio yesterday, Fórsa’s head of education, Andy Pike said 25th January may prove to be a more realistic date. He said that any return to limited in-person services was contingent on further improvements and protections being agreed.

 

Fórsa attended a meeting with Government ministers and representatives of the education department and school management bodies yesterday (14th January). The INTO also attended.

 

What is now proposed is a limited, phased return to service provision, rather than the full resumption of services announced last week by the Government. It is now looking at a partial return to services at 50% capacity, in order to reduce the number of people on site.

 

It is also recognised that this may not be possible for all schools, as some may need more time to put arrangements in place.

 

Earlier this week, Fórsa’s Education Division Executive agreed a position paper, which set out the measures needed to make schools safe for students and staff. It said that the union would support resumption of schools services if these concerns were addressed.

 

Andy said talks were continuing, and that he would issue further advice to members by the middle of next week.

 

“The official position is that schools are safe places, even as we are at the peak of transmission of the virus. Whilst additional mitigation measures have been in place in schools since August, many staff do not have full confidence that schools are safe places to work and study.

 

“We have called on the Department of Education and individual schools to work with us to rebuild confidence and start the resumption of school-based SEN services as quickly and safely as possible,” he said.

 

The union has already secured agreement on overdue improvements in the arrangements for PPE for SNAs, and a commitment that the Deputy Chief Medical Officer will lead the public health effort and communicate directly with SEN staff.

 

Guidance on bus transport is also being reviewed and the education department has written to the Department of Health requesting that SEN staff be prioritised for the Covid vaccine. Schools will also now be required to check and update their risk assessments prior to any partial reopening.

 

“We still have further work to do to ensure that staff in the high risk category are not required to go back into the classroom. And, while the DES now acknowledges that childcare is a problem requiring resolution, we have not yet concluded discussions on that point. We are also seeking further information about enhanced testing,” said Andy.

 

The proposals for partial resumption of school-based services do not affect post-primary classes at this stage.

 

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