Sinn Féin Councillor Conor D. McGuinness has expressed his frustration at the mixed messages coming from Government regarding rapid COVID testing for schools.
McGuinness said:
“Ensuring rapid testing for both pupils and staff is absolutely crucial to addressing the real anxieties of parents and teachers and keeping schools open. The Government announced in the national media that fast turnaround testing was to be put in place for schools, but have since done a U-turn. We now understand that the provision of rapid testing is just under consideration.
“This is not good enough. Mixed messaging and confusion at this fraught and anxious time is bad enough, but parents, children, teachers and principals need to be assured that rapid testing will be available to schools. So much hard work has gone in to getting schools ready to re-open and to prepare children for back to school, but we cannot take it for granted that schools will stay open.
“For that to happen the Government need to ensure adequate procedures and resources are made available and this includes testing. Being able to test rapidly is essential as schools re-open across the state. I have discussed this matter with Sinn Féin education spokesperson Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire and will continue to lobby for adequate provision to be made. Government cannot drag their heels on this, it must be put in place as a matter of urgency.”
Cllr. Conor D. McGuinness 