Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Contact tracing in schools effectively ceased at the end of September. Since then the level of infection has more than trebled among primary school children although in the absence of properly collected data by the health system, the incidence rate may be higher. No satisfactory explanation has been provided by the Government as to how schools went from being safe to unsafe virtually overnight. We support the Government in its intention to keep the schools open but what we cannot understand is why the Minister for Health has not reinstated fully resourced schools-specific contact tracing. Why is that left to principals and parents? Surely it is the HSE that must lead testing and tracing in our schools, including risk assessments and referrals for PCR testing where a child is a close contact. Antigen testing should supplement not replace PCR testing. It is not the job of educators to carry public health duties and we all know how stretched the school system is. The capacity issues for PCR testing also need to be addressed in this context together with outstanding issues in regard to supply and distribution of antigen tests. What update on both can the Taoiseach provide us with?

Finally, on the roll-out of high efficiency particulate air, HEPA, filtration in classrooms, CO2 devices monitor air quality but HEPA filters actively remove contaminants from the air. Does the Taoiseach agree with that and what does he intend to do about it?

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