Written answers

Tuesday, 27 July 2021

Department of Education and Skills

Covid-19 Pandemic

Photo of Duncan SmithDuncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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1052. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will report on the resourcing of primary and secondary schools with Covid-19 equipment such as masks, sanitisers, ventilation and testing kit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40815/21]

Photo of Norma FoleyNorma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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It is planned that all schools will return fully at the end of August/early September in line with their normal planned reopening times.

During the last school year significant measures were put in place to reduce the risk of coronavirus being transmitted to/within the school and a significant funding package of approx €650m was made available to support schools in this respect.

The aim of all of the Covid-19 infection prevention and control measures that have been put in place for schools is to support schools to operate safely and prevent the introduction of Covid-19 and also the onward of transmission of Covid-19 among the school community. There is clear evidence from the operation of schools during the past year that schools are low risk environments in terms of the transmission of COVID-19 and that the infection prevention and control measures in place are highly effective in reducing the risk of contracting COVID-19. These measures protect pupils, their parents and school staff.

Managing classroom ventilation is just one of a number of prevention and control measures in place to ensure schools are safe.

Practical steps for the deployment of good ventilation practices was provided to the school system in the context of re-opening for September 2020. This guidance recognises that there is no “one size that fits all” and that ventilation is best managed at local individual school level. The guidance was reviewed and updated in November 2020 and in May 2021.

The May 2021 update took account of the work of an expert group on ventilation that was established to assess the role of ventilation in reducing transmission of Covid-19 across many settings. This included guidance on the role that portable CO2monitors can play in providing schools with a useful general indication that areas/ rooms may not be adequately ventilated and can enable occupants to become familiar with the impact of activities, outdoor weather and window openings on ventilation levels. The Department is supporting the provision of CO2monitors to the school system for the new school year through a central competitive procurement process.

Where the practical measures for the deployment of good ventilation practices have been undertaken, and poor ventilation continues to exist in a particular room/area, air cleaners may be considered as an additional measure in conjunction with other methods of ventilation that are available. Room air cleaner selection is dependent on the particular setting.

A copy of the guidance is published at www.gov.ie/en/publication/ad236-guidance-on-ventilation-in-schools/.

My Department has always been guided by public health advice in relation to the infection prevention and control measure appropriate for schools. Schools have been advised that it is expected that they will continue to operate with the current infection prevention and control measures in place to support their safe operation during Covid-19 when they reopen in for the 2021/2022 school year.

Public Health advice is that compliance with these measures ensure that schools remain low risk for children and staff. Schools will continue to be supported in terms of the additional resources necessary to provide for these measures.

The Department will continue to work closely with all of the education partners and public health specialists so that schools will continue to be supported when they reopen for the 2021/2022 school year.

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