Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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162. To ask the Minister for Health if the recent lifting on restrictions in the UK will have an impact on quarantine requirements for persons travelling to or from the UK from Ireland. [37737/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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At present, passengers arriving from the Great Britain are required to complete a passenger locator form, to provide a negative pre-departure PCR test and to complete a period of quarantine at the address specified in their passenger locator form.

New travel measures are intended to be introduced from 19th July subject to prevailing public health situation. Government is responding proactively to balancing the risks associated with increased travel with the re-opening of society and non-essential overseas travel. 

These travel measures are kept under continuous review based on public health advice and the international epidemiological situation.

Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independents 4 Change)
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163. To ask the Minister for Health when he will introduce legislation for a recommended standard Covid-19 ventilation system for all indoor activities. [37589/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to inform the Deputy that there are no plans at present to bring legislation for a recommended standard COVID-19 ventilation system for all indoor activities.

Building ventilation has remained one element of broader infection prevention and control (IPC) response over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. The appreciation of the role of ventilation has evolved in the context of developing experience and evidence; guidance, training and measures implemented reflects this learning. Links to published guidance are provided below for the Deputy’s information.  

The NPHET for COVID-19 regards ventilation as an important IPC measure and a NPHET subgroup, called the Expert Group on the Role of Ventilation in Reducing Transmission of COVID-19, was accordingly established in the early part of 2021 to provide scientific advice on ventilation and other control measures to reduce the risk of long-range (airborne) transmission of SARS-CoV-2.  

The Group has a wide range of multi-disciplinary expertise in indoor air quality and related areas including, aerosol science, architecture, engineering, regulation, occupational hygiene, exposure science, virology, microbiology, and public health medicine.

It was agreed that the work of the Expert Review Group and its reports would be taken forward by the Senior Officials Group on COVID-19. Since then, it has informed Departments’ and Agencies’ work in respect of sectoral guidance and public information regarding ventilation. 

The Expert Group submitted two reports while reporting to the NPHET at the Department of Health, which were duly considered by the HPSC and HSE-AMRIC in the context of updating its guidance. These reports, along with relevant agendas and meeting minutes are available on the gov.ie website: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/aa43c-expert-group-on-the-role-of-ventilation-in-reducing-transmission-of-covid-19/#reports 

It is the responsibility of individual Government departments to provide sector-specific COVID-19 advice on ventilation as per their respective remits. In this regard, the Deputy’s attention is drawn to some of the published guidance across a number of sectors, cited below.

Healthcare sector (HSE-AMRIC guidance):

- “Acute Hospital Infection Prevention and Control Precautions for Possible or Confirmed COVID-19 in a Pandemic Setting V.2.3 09.06.2021” www.hpsc.ie/a-z/respiratory/coronavirus/novelcoronavirus/guidance/infectionpreventionandcontrolguidance/InfectionPreventionandControlPrecautionsforAcuteSettings.pdf

- “Interim Guidance on Infection Prevention and Control for the Health Service Executive 2021 V1.3. 11.01.2021” www.hpsc.ie/a-z/respiratory/coronavirus/novelcoronavirus/guidance/infectionpreventionandcontrolguidance/hseinfectionpreventionandcontrolguidanceandframework/Interim%20HSE%20Guidance%20on%20IPC.pdf

- More generally, the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) has published Guidance on Non-Healthcare Building Ventilation during COVID-19. The Guidance provides broad recommendations, based on the literature, for commercial and public buildings: www.hpsc.ie/a-z/respiratory/coronavirus/novelcoronavirus/guidance/infectionpreventionandcontrolguidance/buildingsandfacilitiesguidance/

Education sector:

- www.hpsc.ie/a-z/respiratory/coronavirus/novelcoronavirus/guidance/educationguidance/Guidance%20on%20non%20HCbuilding%20ventilation%20during%20COVID-19.pdf

-www.gov.ie/en/publication/ad236-guidance-on-ventilation-in-schools/

Workplaces, Businesses (including hospitality), Retails Settings, and Shopping Centres:

- A revised Work Safely Protocol (previously the Return to Work Protocol) was published on 14th May 2021 as a collaborative effort between employers and employees, which was led by the Departments of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and Health, with the support of the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) and with significant input by public health from the Health Service Executive (HSE). The revised Protocol incorporates the current advice on the Public Health measures needed to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the community and workplaces including enhanced detail on ventilation www.gov.ie/en/publication/bb7fd-work-safely-protocol/

- www.nsai.ie/images/uploads/general/NSAI-COVID19-Retail-Guidelines-13012021.pdf

- www.nsai.ie/images/uploads/general/NSAI-COVID19-Shopping-Centre-Guidelines-13012021.pdf 

- Fáilte Ireland: Overview Guidelines to Reopening -failtecdn.azureedge.net/failteireland/Overview-Guidelines-to-Re-opening.pdf

- Fáilte Ireland: Guidelines for Reopening Restaurants and Cafes failtecdn.azureedge.net/failteireland/Guidelines-for-Re-opening-Restaurants-and-Cafes.pdf

- Fáilte Ireland:  Guidelines for Reopening Hotels and Guesthouses - failtecdn.azureedge.net/failteireland/Guidelines-for-Re-opening-Hotels-and-Guesthouses.pdf

There is also additional guidance on Gov.ie and on the HSE website which outlines the importance of ventilation in households, this can be found here: 

- www.gov.ie/en/publication/472f64-covid-19-coronavirus-guidance-and-advice/

- www2.hse.ie/conditions/coronavirus/how-coronavirus-is-spread.html