Constant exposure and schooling
Deputy Clarke asked about children needing to stay home for 17 days because of ongoing household exposure and whether homeschooling or financial supports would be available. The Taoiseach said parents should contact the school first, that the homeschool programme had already been extended, and that the suggestion needed to be realistic.
This morning, some parents in my constituency received the following message from their local school: "If someone in your household has Covid-19 and cannot isolate from others, your child would need to stay at home for 17 days even if they feel well and get a negative PCR test." This refers to something that public heath advisers and the HSE refer to as constant exposure or ongoing exposure, where there is one person in the house who tests positive but, for whatever reason, cannot isolate and does not have access to a dedicated bathroom, which creates this situation. I am going to put to the Taoiseach the questions these parents have been putting to me this morning. Will homeschooling be facilitated when situations like this arise? Given we have a seven-day average of 4,659 cases, it is safe to assume there are a number of children in this situation at this point in time.
Comment on this
I will indeed. I am referring to what is called constant exposure or ongoing exposure. Will homeschooling be facilitated for those children who are required to stay out of school for 17 days? Second, where a parent is required to be at home to provide vital care for a child, will that parent have access to the pandemic financial supports, whether illness benefit or the PUP?
Comment on this
Parents of children in such situations should first contact their local school.
Is the Deputy suggesting that anybody who is a close contact and who is staying at home should be provided with homeschooling?
Comment on this
No, the child. If you have a child-----
Comment on this
No, this is for children who are out for 17 days.
Comment on this
The homeschool programme has, as the Deputy knows, already been extended significantly.
Comment on this
I am talking about the solution that the Deputy is suggesting. It needs to be realistic. The first port of call should be engagement with the principal of the local school regarding the educational needs of the child.
Comment on this
Has the Taoiseach had engagements with the schools? Will the parents be able to access financial supports?