1. Update on Government Guidance

2. Cancellation of In-School Management Conference 2021

3. Unmet Demand Survey

1. Update on Government Guidance

Currently there is no change in Department of Education guidance on arrangements for student attendance and onsite activities in schools in line with School Covid Response Plans.

With regard to the Government guidance on working from home, ACCS advises that as education remains an essential service, attendance at work onsite is required by those engaged in delivery and support of educational services.

Government guidance that comes into immediate effect is that household close contacts who are fully vaccinated and showing no symptoms should now restrict their movements until they have three negative antigen test results within five days.

ACCS will issue advice when it receives guidance from the Department. In the meantime, schools are advised to follow public health guidance.

2. Cancellation of In-School Management Conference 2021

ACCS wishes to inform you that the In-School Management Conference scheduled for 25th & 26th November 2021 has been cancelled in light of growing concerns around the Covid-19 virus and the surge in infection rates across the country.

We are disappointed that we are unable to proceed with this year’s event which had been planned across four venues and had included extra precautions and mitigation measures in line with public health guidelines to ensure delegates safety while attending the Conference.

We wish to express our sincere thanks to the ACCS In-School Management Task Group for their time and commitment in organising this year’s Conference. We hope to re-schedule a similar event in 2022.

There is no requirement to cancel hotel accommodation bookings. The reservation departments in all four hotels have been notified of the cancellation and any payments made by individuals will be refunded in the coming days to the credit/debit card used to secure the booking where relevant.

Delegates who booked spa treatments are however, requested to contact the relevant spa directly to cancel appointments.

Golf has been cancelled at the various golf courses and a credit note will issue to schools who have paid the Conference registration fee to ACCS.

We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience the cancellation of our In-School Management Conference may have caused to schools at this time.

3. Unmet Demand Survey

Thank you to all schools which have completed the DE survey of unmet demand. There has been an overall response rate of approximately 50% at this point and, accordingly, it has been decided to extend the deadline for the completion of the survey to close of business, 26th November 2021. With this in mind, ACCS would again, reiterate the importance of making a survey return ASAP but by the revised deadline at the latest.

 As you know, the data collected will be a vital component of the teacher supply planning process and broaden the Department’s, as well as the management bodies’, understanding of teacher demand and supply issues. Accordingly, it is important that as many schools as possible respond, including schools which had no vacancies or no unfilled vacancies this year.

The Department is also aware that there are a number of incomplete drafts on the system and schools should be encouraged to check that they have completed the survey submission process.

The Department is still receiving messages from schools reporting that they never received the survey link. Schools should have received an email from the following address, DIGIT-EUSURVEY@nomail.ec.europa.eu. If not received, check the junk mail folder and add DIGIT-EUSURVEY@nomail.ec.europa.eu to the safe senders list. Please contact Teacherdemand@education.gov.ie as soon as possible if the email was not received. Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge are also recommended for accessing the survey, as it may not work on Internet Explorer.

Is mise, Le mór mheas,

John Irwin,  GENERAL SECRETARY.