Pauline O'Reilly (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

The Minister is most welcome; it is good to see her in the Chamber again. In the last four weeks, we have seen a 240% increase in those testing positive for Covid among the five- to 12-year-old age cohort. Obviously, that is hugely alarming and has led to significant steps being taken by the Minister's Department. Three major steps have been taken now. One of those is the provision of antigen tests for close contacts, which is most welcome. The second is the provision of additional staff in substitute teaching resources. The third, which many are debating at the moment, relates to mask-wearing. I think it is really important that we put on the record the importance of mask-wearing. The WHO and all of the experts internationally say that there are two things that need to be done to help stop the spread of this horrible virus, that is, vaccination and mask-wearing. Any of the research that has been done across the states which have implemented the mask-wearing regime for children has shown a huge decrease in the overall transmission rates. Research showed that in North Carolina, for example, 7,000 children and staff were carrying the virus and only 363 cases were found as a result of that 7,000. That would be unheard of if the adults and children were not wearing masks. The virus is so transmissible at this stage.

I would like to talk about ventilation. It is an issue I spoke about yesterday in the Seanad and on Galway Bay FM this morning. Yesterday the radio station received a huge amount of texts on the issue of HEPA filters. I know that the Minister mentioned them in her statement, but I am conscious that Professor Wenger, who chaired that expert committee, said that not enough is being done to identify schools that are at risk and where HEPA ventilation might work. It does not work for every school. It is important to point out that not every school needs it. However, it stops 99% of particulate matter from circulating in the air. It is an issue for Covid. From my perspective and that of my party, it is also about looking at air quality in general. As we think about the years ahead and what else is coming down the track, it is an investment that will stand the test of time. I would like some further information about what is being done on the issue. I know that schools can apply for HEPA ventilation. To echo what was previously mentioned, how fast is that happening? I have heard of instances where parents are paying for the filtration systems themselves.

The second point I wish to raise concerns vulnerable students. I have just come to the Chamber from the launch of a report that we did in the Oireachtas Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community, of which I am a member. We travelled the country going to halting sites and being brought into people's homes. I saw, first-hand, a case of four children sleeping on a floor because the house had only one bedroom. There were a few teenagers in the house that I visited who were falling asleep on the sofa because they had had such a poor night's sleep. That was after they came home from school. It is an issue that I think is Covid-related as well, because people have been kept at home. We have to learn the lessons of that. As many people have said, including the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, it is the children from the most disadvantaged areas that have been impacted most by Covid in their education. That needs to be considered in looking at how we plan for the future to ensure that it does not happen. The provision of accommodation for the Traveller community is key, as are other areas like mental health services.

I have been contacted by a number of parents regarding special schools, in particular. A commitment that they will not close is needed. There is a real sense of fear and anxiety among parents.

The final point I wish to make concerns clothing. It is what got people so exercised in Galway yesterday. Every school is doing something different. The windows in schools are open. Some schools are saying that children cannot wear jackets; some are saying that they cannot put hoodies on. Sometimes, teachers are sitting there with jackets on. There needs to be a level playing field. Everybody must play by the same rules. Every child in every school is hearing the same information. They need to be warm or they are not going to learn.

I wish to briefly remind the Minister of the commitment she made to meet with the principal of Galway Educate Together Secondary School. I thank her for making that commitment. I would love to progress that with her staff.