Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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551. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of classrooms or teaching spaces that currently have a carbon dioxide monitor installed, by county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42234/21]

Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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552. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the optimum parts per million range her Department will be recommending with regard to the use of carbon dioxide monitors in classrooms as a mitigation strategy for Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42235/21]

Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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553. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the additional measures such as air circulation or filtration devices that will be used to increase airflow and reduce the spread of Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42236/21]

Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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554. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will report on the investigations and research her Department has conducted into measures (details supplied); the conclusions reached in each case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42237/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 551 to 554, inclusive, together.

The importance of good ventilation is an 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 and this group issued a report with specific advice for schools.This report supplemented the main group report on Ventilation and related measures to reduce airborne transmission of COVID-19. The Expert Group recommended that the report be read in conjunction with advice issued by the Department of Education Practical Steps for the Deployment of Good Ventilation Practices in Schools. The Expert Sub Group report formed the basis 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. To support schools further to identify rooms which may have inadequate ventilation and to optimise comfort levels through a better understanding of the degree of window opening required in rooms, the Department have arranged for the provision to schools of a number of portable units (based on the size of each school). The use of CO2 monitors can provide a useful general indication that areas/rooms within a building may not be adequately ventilated 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 my Department has funded the provision of over 35,000 portable CO2 monitors for 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 use of CO2 monitors can provide a useful general indication that areas/rooms within a building may not be adequately ventilated 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 my Department has funded the provision of over 35,000 portable CO2 monitors for schools. These portable units can facilitate measurements in a wide range of locations in schools.

Deliveries of CO₂monitors to schools commenced during the 3^rdweek of August and are expected to be completed by mid-September. In total, it involves over 35,000 CO₂monitors being distributed to schools in either one or two deliveries over a four-week period.

The number of units provided by county is determined by the size and number of schools in each location. The bandings below have been used to allocate the monitors.

As of the 7^thof September 16,500 monitors have been delivered.

CO2 levels provide a guide on air quality. Monitoring CO2 levels will help schools to identify poorly ventilated rooms. The CO2 monitors being provided to schools guides them on the need to increase ventilation once Co2 levels are above 800 CO2 parts per million.

The updated guidance on ventilation references a role for air cleaners in certain more limited circumstances where for example a room is not well ventilated and works are awaited to address same. The air cleaner can assist in such cases in improving air quality but it is important to note that air cleaning devices are not a substitute for good ventilation.

A school’s architect or engineer can guide a school on whether an air cleaner is necessary or appropriate.

If an individual school has particular difficulties in managing ventilation my Department is available to guide and support it as required on the appropriate strategy to address same.

My Department’s ventilation guidance for schools is very clear and practical on the steps to be taken by all schools to manage ventilation levels. A copy of the guidance is published at www.gov.ie/en/publication/ad236-guidance-on-ventilation-in-schools/.