Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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328. To ask the Minister for Health the requirements for air changes per hour regarding air filtration systems to help create clean air spaces in ensuring workplaces are safe to return to following the publication of the recent return to work safety protocol that was drafted in conjunction with the HSA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31871/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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It is well recognised that ventilation plays an important factor in reducing the risk of aerosol transmission indoors, where individuals may be in close contact, potentially for longer periods of time and in poorly ventilated areas. It is not however a substitute for other control measures, such as vaccination, physical distancing, cleaning, face coverings and maintaining good hand and respiratory hygiene.

Ventilation requirements will vary depending on the workplace and the type of work being undertaken. The transmission of viral particles very much depends on the interaction of multiple factors such as the viral emission rate, the duration of exposure, the level of occupancy, environmental conditions, and ventilation rate. Focusing on air changes per hour (ACH) is not practical and would require engineering expertise to take account of specific settings in respect to the nature of the individual premises, the workspace, and the type of work being undertaken. Page 35 of The Work Safely Protocol contains a section on ventilation that offers advice to business owners. The advice is to focus on ways that ventilation can be increased in all work areas and the need to undertake a risk assessment for each indoor workplace to determine if there are any occupied areas that might be enclosed and poorly ventilated.

The Protocol also acknowledges that re-occupying workplaces should not, in most cases, require new ventilation systems but rather that improvements to ventilation will help increase the quantity of clean air and reduce the risk of exposure to airborne concentrations of the virus. The advice is to improve ventilation to increase the fresh air and reduce the level of recirculated air. Increasing ventilation can be achieved through natural means, like opening a window, or by mechanical means.

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, evidence, guidance and training, and the measures implemented reflect this learning.

The Deputy may also wish to note the work of the Expert Group on the Role of Ventilation in Reducing Transmission of COVID-19, which provides scientific advice on the role of ventilation and other control measures in mitigating against the risk of long-range (airborne) transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Their reports are available on the gov.ie website: 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 (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:

- 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, led by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, and involving primarily the Health and Safety Authority (HSA), 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.