Delay in antigen testing for schools criticised by Labour

The Labour party has criticised a delay in piloting the use of antigen tests for schools as it called for rapid testing to be used to help stop the spread of Covid-19 among children.

The party’s education spokesman Aodhán Ó Ríordáin said it is “not good enough” for senior members of Government to now suggest the tests could be used in school when an expert group recommended such a move last May.

Mr Ó Ríordáin also claimed schools are “at breaking point” over difficulties in finding substitute teachers.

There is concern over an increase in cases of Covid-19 in the unvaccinated fiveto-12-year-old age group.

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At the weekend, Minister for Education Norma Foley said the possibility of using antigen testing for pupils who are close contacts is a matter for the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) to consider.

Tánaiste Leo Varadkar last week raised the possibility that antigen tests could be used for children who are close contacts of a case in their classroom pod.

Mr Ó Ríordáin said on Tuesday he was “deeply frustrated” by Ms Foley’s remarks.

He said: “There was an expert group that recommended in May that antigen testing be rolled out on a pilot basis in primary and secondary schools.

“That wasn’t done and it’s now November.”

He said the minister needs to act on the expert group’s recommendation and “ensure that we do have antigen testing rolled out throughout our schools to ensure that parents feel more at ease, that the anxiety levels can be reduced and the spread of Covid-19 throughout our primary schools can be arrested.”

Responding to Mr Varadkar’s comments on the issue, the Dublin Bay North TD said: “why does it take from May to now for the Tánaiste to suggest this is something that should be pursued.

“It is just not good enough.”

Speaking to RTÉ on Sunday, Ms Foley also announced that 100 extra teachers are to be recruited to provide substitute cover in areas where shortages are most acute.

Mr Ó Ríordáin claimed that on this issue the minister was “depending on the fact that most school principals and school communities want to keep the reputation of their schools intact without speaking to the fact that their schools are at breaking point”.

He criticised a Department circular sent out in recent weeks which he said gave instructions on “who can and cannot provide cover in classrooms”.

“Everyone wants to keep the schools open but we have to do it in a way that respects the knowledge base of principals and board of management and also respect the fact that we are still effectively in a war-time scenario.

“Getting circulars form the department that are basically peace-time circulars is not serving anybody.”