Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

Everyone wants the schools to remain open. We have seen schools, principals and teachers, parents and children doing their absolute utmost to make sure that happens. I think they will continue to do so but Government has a role to play as well. The Government has not taken its full responsibility seriously. I am talking primarily about the issue of filtration. The Minister for Education has said that natural ventilation is best but there are a few issues with it. It has proven not to be effective to date. Some schools cannot provide natural ventilation. It is cold. We are in the middle of a very cold snap. I have had a child say to me that Mondays are their favourite day because they get to sit beside the radiator on a Monday. I ask the Taoiseach to re-examine the issue of filtration for schools, look at the international expertise, take on board what they are saying and implement a filtration strategy even if it is just on a precautionary basis.

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