AQW 12445/17-22

Ms Paula Bradshaw
Alliance Party
South Belfast

Tabled Date: 11/01/2021
Answered On Date: 28/05/2021
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health for an assessment of how his request that people stay at home is consistent with the maintenance of private tests, which have already been postponed, occurring in school halls on weekend mornings.

Answer:

Currently any person responsible for organising or operating a gathering of over 15 must:

have carried out a risk assessment which meets the requirements of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000, whether or not that person is subject to those Regulations;

take all reasonable measures to limit the risk of transmission of the coronavirus, including implementing the preventive and protective measures identified in the risk assessment and comply with any relevant guidance issued by a Northern Ireland Government Department.

A person responsible for organising a gathering must, if requested to do so by a relevant person, provide a copy of the risk assessment and an account of the reasonable measures taken.

For specific guidance on schools I would refer you to my colleague, the Minister of Education.