Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In terms of the issues regarding the five- to 12-year-olds, we have been told with regard to Covid and public health that there is a particular spike, especially among nine- to 12-year-olds, and that additional measures are required. The Senator specifically referred to contact tracing and the rule for contact tracing. That is a public health and HSE measure. The Department of Education is consistently engaged with public health. As I said in my opening remarks, we have been, and continue to be, guided by public health advice. I would not for a minute expect anybody in the education sector to have the medical expertise so we defer to those who have it. In the context of public health we are deferring to the Chief Medical Officer, CMO, and NPHET with regard to measures for schools. As regards contact tracing, the public health view was that, at the time, there were thousands of students who were excluded from school for ten days or more after being identified as close contacts. They did not develop Covid-19 or have symptoms of Covid-19, but they were excluded from school for a very long time. That was not sustainable and I think that was the view on the ground as well.

Equally, I wish to reflect on the new measure that public health has indicated as an additional tool, which is antigen testing. The Senators have referred to the timing of introducing antigen testing. Again, that is a public health call, but I will be fair and acknowledge that there has been a variety of views on the effectiveness, appropriateness and timeliness of antigen testing. However, a point was reached recently where the CMO reflected on the evidence, and the more time passes the more evidence becomes available, and it was his expert view that there was a place for antigen testing in schools as an additional tool to all the other tools. It has been operational since Monday. There has been huge buy-in from parents and guardians in that regard. I have heard from parents how effectively the roll-out of antigen testing has been. When they applied to the call centre, they got the tests the following day and so forth. As regards the management of it and future decisions on making antigen tests available on a wider scale, that is very much a public health issue.

Ventilation was raised by a number of Senators. I am very conscious of the need for a wide variety of infection prevention and control measures in schools. We have been very clear about ventilation. Senators referred to the expert group on ventilation. It was the view of that group and others that natural ventilation is the most significant form. As a result, there is of windows and doors, cross-ventilation and so forth. That is very appropriate and guidelines have been issued to that effect. However, there was also a recognition, and there continues to be a recognition, that different schools have different needs, different complexities and different issues when it comes to ventilation.

There is a strong willingness on the part of the Department to engage with schools and to examine what measures are necessary where there might be difficulties. For some schools, that has proven to be in the context of additional vents, windows or whatever the case might be. The willingness has been there and the work is ongoing to carry out mitigation.The expert group was of the view that CO2 monitors would be helpful, and they were put in place within the school environment. As regards HEPA filtration specifically, it was the view of the expert group that "Stand-alone HEPA filter devices may be useful", but it also stated that "in the longer run, improvements to ventilation should be made to ensure adequate outdoor air ventilation rates are delivered". In other words, there is a two-pronged approach, if you like. In the first instance, the Department considers the necessary remediation that might be required. The requirements of one school may be very different to those of another school. Whatever remediation is identified, a school on the ground can employ a local engineer or architect or it can avail of the technical assistance of the Department, which is also available. Depending on the advice, we will take the remedial action such as the installation of vents or windows, or whatever is required. If the advice is that HEPA filters have a role or a place, they will be supplied. There is an openness to taking on board the advice that is given, implementing it and recognising that no one solution will meet all the individual needs of different schools.

I refer to the substitution panel, the need to grow it and the specific instances raised in that regard. There has been an inordinate willingness on the part of the Department to expand and grow the substitution panels. I wish to be clear on this. Prior to the formation of the Government, 18 teachers were employed nationwide on these substitution panels. We are now in a position where more than 680 teachers have been employed on the panels. These teachers are employed on a full-time basis to provide emergency cover as that need arises in schools. In advance of the reopening of schools this year, we added to those substitution panels. We have added another 300 in recent weeks and we are consistently reviewing particular areas. I repeat that substitution issues are more acute in some areas than in others and, therefore, the distribution of the panel is important. The most recent additions were very much targeted at areas where there are issues and difficulties.

I have already dealt with the issue of DEIS schools. I welcome the roll-out of the hot school meals programme. It does not fall within my remit. It is part of the remit of the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Humphreys. She is very committed to it, as the Senator will be aware. We do all we can to support her from a cross-departmental point of view in terms of increasing that roll-out. She is incredibly supportive of and committed to that programme.

Have I run out of time?