Cork school confirms 100 Covid cases among students since mid-term break
Gaelscoil Ui Riordain, Ballincollig, has informed the parents of students in the affected classes.
A gaelscoil in Ballincollig, Cork, says it is aware of 100 confirmed cases of Covid-19 among its 765 students recorded since it returned after the mid-term break.
It comes as primary schools across the country remain under pressure amid the ongoing surge in daily infections.
In a statement, Gabriel Ó Cathasaigh, principal of Gaelscoil Uí Ríordáin, confirmed there have been a number of cases among students in the four weeks since the mid-term break. “As of [Tuesday] the school is aware of about 100 confirmed cases in students spread across 10 classes over the last four weeks.”
The school has informed the parents of students in the affected classes, he said, adding that the total number of cases has to be seen in the context of a school with a student population of 765. There are no confirmed cases of Covid-19 among staff members at the moment.
“The school has been in contact with public health doctors who have said that they will contact the school again if necessary," he said.
"Thanks to the co-operation of our students, their parents, and staff, the rate of Covid in the school has remained particularly low until the last four weeks when we have seen cases rise in line with national trends.
"Thankfully, none of the children who contracted Covid-19 were very sick and those who were sick in the early stages are now back in school.”
The current transmission levels of Covid-19 continue to impact schools across the country this week. Many have struggled to source substitute teachers to cover for those who are sick or isolating. Due to infection prevention measures, classes can no longer be split up and sent to others if their teacher is out.
On Tuesday, the Department of Education met with the teacher training colleges to see if students could take on more substitution work to help to ease the pressure. It followed calls from the Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO) to permit 500 third- and fourth-year students to substitute for five days between now and Christmas.
A spokesman for Mary Immaculate College said that following the meeting, it informed both primary and post-primary teaching students they have its consent to engage in substitution work given the “exceptional circumstances”.
A spokesman for the Department of Education said that following "positive engagement", the higher education institutions agreed to facilitate the release of third- and fourth-year students to support schools up to the end of term.
"They have also agreed to explore flexible options in relation to the assessment requirement for programmes in the context of students being available to support schools."
The department, the higher education institutions, and the Teaching Council will continue to work together to address any practical issues and ensure availability of student teachers to support schools pre- and post-Christmas, he added.
