Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

Covid in children is at an all time high. I want to revisit the conversation we had previously with regard to HEPA filters. The Taoiseach mentioned previously that a budget for HEPA filters would be coming on stream in the next couple of weeks. Is that budget the annual minor works grant scheme? If that is the budget to which the Taoiseach refers, are we facing a scenario where schools will be in the invidious situation of having to choose between fixing a broken window or toilet and the installation of a much-needed HEPA filter? Would it not be much better if we had a standalone budget for primary schools that is specifically for HEPA filters? We cannot have a scenario where schools will have to choose between minor works and a mitigation that will, to some degree, make children safer.

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