The HSE is at the centre of controversy over “mixed messages” and “inconsistencies” after stating that primary school principals can share information about a Covid case if a pupil’s parents have given their consent.

It is at odds with the guidance issued to schools in September when routine testing and contract tracing was withdrawn, and it has caused confusion and anger among principals.

Education Minister Norma Foley cited the same guidance last week, in response to a parliamentary question.

The September advice stated that Public Health “do not recommend that you tell parents of other children that there has been a case of Covid-19 within your class/facility/group. Any sharing of health data is therefore not being undertaken on the advice of Public Health.”

It says: “From a public health perspective, there is no clinical need for information to be shared with contacts of cases.”

That advice was included in an FAQ document prepared by the HSE for schools and was a reply to the question: “Should I tell parents of the class/school/group if I am aware that someone has tested positive for Covid-19?”

It did not make any exceptions.

However, in response to a media query this week, the HSE said that if parents informed a school of a case of Covid-19, “and those parents are happy for this information to be shared, then principals are free to do that if they are satisfied it is in compliance with GDPR”.

Some parents do volunteer information about a Covid-positive test result with their school and some principals do share that with other parents, although without identifying the case.

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An Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) spokesperson said: “When the hasty decision to abandon testing and contact tracing in schools was announced, schools were provided with advice from the Department of Education and public health setting out the change in detail.

“The latest statement from the HSE setting out that principals can confirm a Covid-19 outbreak in schools is inconsistent with the original guidance provided to schools.

“Mixed messages during a pandemic are not helpful to a school community battling an ever-deteriorating public health landscape.”

The INTO has raised the matter with the Department of Education.

Páiric Clerkin, CEO of the Irish Primary Principals Network (IPPN) said: “If the HSE is saying that individually to schools, that is not good enough.”

Mr Clerkin said such advice “has to be in the guidance document, otherwise it is impossible for people to manage it at local level. There needs to be a clear message and one message.”

Despite the outcry over the statement, the HSE stuck to its position last night. A spokesperson said the HSE “continues to guard against sharing of information when specific parental consent has not been sought, as any information regarding Covid-19 is no longer being requested to be shared routinely under the protection of public health.

The spokesperson added: “Principals regularly share information with parents and the HSE has no role in this. Therefore if schools are informed by parents of a case of Covid-19, and those parents are happy for this information to be shared, then principals are free to do.

“However, no personal details should be divulged.”