AQW 4497/17-22

Mr Stewart Dickson
Alliance Party
East Antrim

Tabled Date: 04/06/2020
Answered On Date: 11/06/2020
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education for the estimated cost to schools for additional extended cleaning practices and sanitising products per term, and how this will be budgeted for.

Answer:

My Department has established a Restart Programme to consider a range of issues relating to the safe and effective re-opening of schools. As part of this, guidance is being prepared, through co-design with practitioners, on practical issues linked to a “new school day”. This will cover issues such as hygiene and cleaning practices.

It is likely that there will be additional costs as a result of additional health and safety measures, such as cleaning. The Department is not in a position to quantify these costs at this stage. These will be identified and managed as work develops on Restart.