Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independents 4 Change)
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1354. To ask the Minister for Health if there is a group of environmental scientists feeding into NPHET; if not, the reason; and the amount allocated to improve ventilation in buildings (details supplied). [33341/20]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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1469. To ask the Minister for Health if his Department has considered evidence in an article (details supplied) which shows that good ventilation is critical to lowering Covid-19 transmission; the number of personnel in his Department who have responsibility for considering and implementing preventative policy actions to stop the onward spread of Covid-19; if ventilation is considered as part of their work; if so, if they are considering the impact of ventilation in disparate areas such as homes, cars, schools and nursing homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33913/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1354 and 1469 together.

Lack of appropriate ventilation within healthcare settings has been associated with increased rates of infection with airborne diseases. Similarly, inadequate ventilation in nonhealthcare settings has been shown as a contributing factor in outbreaks of highly infectious airborne diseases like measles and TB. COVID-19 is a new disease, and the effect of ventilation on the transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) is still unclear.

There is currently no strong evidence to suggest that SARS-CoV-2 is spread through aerosol transmission via HVAC systems. However, there is evidence that COVID-19 outbreaks are more commonly associated with crowded indoor spaces, and that poor ventilation may increase the risk of transmission in such settings by facilitating the spread of droplets over longer distances.

The Deputy may wish to note that in September the HSE’s Health Protection Surveillance Centre published a guidance document which provides an analysis of the current literature examining the association between ventilation and COVID-19. The document also provides recommendations, based on the literature, for commercial and public buildings, including with regard to mechanical ventilation. The guidance also includes specific recommendations for school settings. This guidance can be found at the following link:

Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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1355. To ask the Minister for Health if the case of a person (details supplied) will be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33342/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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On Tuesday 15 September the Government published ‘Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19’. This Plan outlines our medium-term strategy for COVID-19 and sets out a Framework of 5 Levels which outline the broad measures which will apply depending on the level of the virus at any given time. The Plan is designed to help everyone – individuals, families, organisations and sectors – to better understand, anticipate and prepare for the measures that might be introduced to contain transmission of the virus. Restrictions on domestic travel apply at Levels 3, 4 and 5 of the Plan. No restrictions on travel apply at Level 1 and 2 of the Plan.

At all levels of the Framework, and in all regulations which give effect to measures agreed by Government, provision is made to ensure that parents can continue to access their children. The regulations make clear that it is permitted to travel across county borders (Levels 3 and 4) and further than 5km (Level 5) for these purposes. Travel is permitted for parents of a child; guardian of a child; and a person who has a right of access to a child.

Those who share parenting or custody arrangements are now also permitted to form a support bubble should they wish to and further details on support bubbles is available here: