Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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1068. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the funding she has put in place to allow primary and post-primary schools to improve ventilation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41092/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The importance of good ventilation is an increasing and important aspect of public health advice on managing Covid-19 risks and this led to the establishment of an Expert Group by the Department of Health.

A sub-group of the main Expert Group focussed exclusively on the issue of improving and monitoring ventilation in schools.

The Expert Group noted the strength of the ventilation guidance.

This report formed the based for the most recent updating of the ventilation guidance for schools and included recommendations in relation to strengthening the message about the importance of good ventilation, the use of CO2 monitors and, where considered necessary, air cleaners.

A link to the published guidance and the associated background information is available at:

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

www.gov.ie/ga/foilsiuchan/aerala-i-scoileanna/.

The use of CO2 monitors can provide a useful general indication that areas/rooms within a building require more ventilation and can enable occupants to become familiar with the impact that activities, outdoor weather and window openings have on levels of good ventilation within a room. This information can be used to inform strategies for improving ventilation and in that regard the Department of Education has funded the provision of a number of portable CO2 monitors for all schools at an estimated overall cost of circa €4 million. The portable units can facilitate measurements in a wide range of locations in schools.

The provision of C02 monitors follows on from minor works grant funding at primary level and the Covid-19 related minor works grant at post-primary level provided in 2020 to help schools to manage and operate in a Covid environment and further facilitates schools in areas such as enhancing ventilation in classrooms e.g. enabling permanent ventilation openings through vent in a wall or in window frame(s) where not currently in available in a classroom.

Minor Works Grant funding of €29m issued to all primary schools in August 2020. Additionally in 2020, due to the exceptional circumstances arising from COVID-19, funding of €130m under the Minor Works Grants was allocated in order to provide operational supports to primary and post primary schools to fully and safely reopen in a sustainable way while minimising risks associated with COVID-19. This included €75m under the July Stimulus package allocated through minor works grants in order to provide operational supports to primary and post primary schools to fully and safely reopen in a sustainable way while minimising risks associated with COVID-19.

Furthermore €55 million in minor works grants for primary and post-primary schools was issued in early December, 2020. The €55 million payments involved an additional €25m funding for Covid-19 related Minor Works at post-primary level and the bringing forward from 2021 the standard €30m minor works grant at primary level.