The INTO's latest advice and guidance on COVID-19 can be found below.
Please check our website regularly for updates.
If your school closes due to COVID-19 please contact INTO Northern Office on 028 9038 1455 or infoni@into.ie to notify us and advise of any issues.
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COVID-19: Frequently asked Questions
Please access our Frequently Asked Questions page which is being updated regularly.
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Updated: Absence, Pay & Staffing Guidance Relating to Coronavirus (COVID-19)
31 July 2023
DE have updated (July 2023) their publication: Absence, Pay & Staffing Guidance Relating to Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice for Principals, managers and staff (pdf).
Long COVID: Advice for Principals and Managers
15 September 2022
DE Guidance: A Principal and Manager Guide to Long COVID (pdf)
Updated Advice to Members
1 September 2022
DE Guidance and PHA advice continues to inform all health and safety steps a school must be following. These are:
Temporary Provision of Normal Pay
The 10 days COVID-19 temporary provision of normal pay is now reduced to a maximum of five calendar days.
If the period of absence extends beyond five days, normal sickness absence procedure will commence from the sixth day onwards.
Supply Teachers
Where a teacher has been engaged through NISTR and is required to self-isolate, they can avail of the five calendar days normal pay.
Staff Testing Positive
Adults with a positive test result are advised to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for five days after the day of the test, or from the day symptoms started.
For children (under 18 years of age) this period is now reduced to three days.
Staff returning to work after covid related leave should continue to wear a face mask and socially distance for ten days from date of first symptoms.
Exceptional Dependents Leave
From 1 September 2022 the temporary provision of normal pay for up to ten days exceptional dependants leave has been removed. Teachers are now advised to follow the DE2014/18 circular which affords up to three days with pay.
Working from Home
The guidance encouraging staff to work from home to reduce the spread of COVID-19 has been removed.
COVID-19 Risk Assessment
DE / HSCNI has confirmed there is no longer a requirement for COVID-19 specific risk assessments for all staff at higher risk of various health issues, previously defined as falling into the following categories: Clinically Vulnerable, Clinically Extremely Vulnerable.
This is in line with the normal situation where an overall general employers’ risk assessment for all staff is sufficient for vulnerable staff.
Pregnant Teachers
DE / HSCNI has confirmed there is no longer a requirement for COVID-19 specific risk assessments for staff who are pregnant. This is in line with the normal situation where an overall general employers’ risk assessment for staff is sufficient for pregnant staff.
The normal pregnancy assessment may include COVID risks but there is no requirement for an additional COVID specific assessment for this group.
However, where additional written medical evidence / advice is presented by pregnant teachers, their general risk assessment should be tailored to the individual need to reflect the medical advice presented.
Social Distancing
The Executive’s requirement for offices and working rooms to take reasonable measures for 2m social distancing has now been removed. However, staff are advised to maintain a safe distance from anyone outside their homes.
Face Coverings
Whilst wearing a face covering is no longer a legal requirement, it is recommended where you will come into contact with people outside your home.
Staff and pupils may wear a face covering at any time should they wish to. In staff communal areas there should also be other appropriate mitigations such as ensuring the room is appropriately ventilated.
EA Updated Risk Assessment Template & Guidance
30 August 2022
The EA have further updated their Risk Assessment Templates into a more general format which can be accessed below along with accompanying guidance notes:
General Risk Assessment Guidance Relating to Respiratory Viruses (pdf)
Updated: Absence, Pay & Staffing Guidance Relating to Coronavirus (COVID-19)
August 2022
DE have updated (August 2022) their Education Restart publication: Absence, Pay & Staffing Guidance Relating to Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice for Principals, managers and staff (pdf).
EA Updated Risk Assessment Templates
29 April 2022
The EA updated their Risk Assessment Templates in April 2022. The latest versions can be accessed here:
For Schools:
- Generic Guidance on the Completion of School Risk Assessments (pdf)
- Ventilation Risk Assessment (docx)
- Nursery Schools COVID-19 Risk Assessment (docx)
- Primary Schools COVID-19 Risk Assessment (docx)
- Post-Primary Schools and EOTAS COVID-19 Risk Assessment (docx)
- Special Schools COVID-19 Risk Assessment (docx)
- Clinically Extremely Vulnerable Pupil Risk Assessment (docx)
- Generic Guidance on Completion of Risk Assessments for Public Examinations (docx)
- Risk Assessment for Examination Staff (docx)
For Individuals:
Updated guidance and new individual risk assessment templates can be viewed on the DE WEBSITE.
DE Updated COVID Guidance for Schools
6 April 2022
The DE have issued a Guidance Note (pdf) to schools which contains a link to the latest revised DE COVID Guidance to reflect the Transition Plan and the wider societal move to learn to live alongside COVID.
EA Guidance for Principals re: Finance
5 April 2022
The EA have issued guidance to Principals re: COVID-19 2022-23 Expenditure (pdf).
School Ventilation Update
14 December 2021
The EA have written to schools in a letter to Principals (pdf) enclosing EA Guidance on Ventilation in Schools During COVID (pdf).
