David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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627. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide reassurance to parents of children who are returning back to school settings that adequate Covid-19 safety measures are provided including air monitors in classrooms and regulation of ventilation and air filtration; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42899/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Managing ventilation is just one of a suite of public health measures in place to keep our schools safe. Updated guidance for schools on Practical Steps for the Deployment of Good Ventilation Practices in Schools was provided at the end of May following the work of an expert group that carefully considered the role of ventilation in managing COVID-19.

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

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The over-arching approach in the guidance is for schools to have windows open as fully as possible when classrooms are not in use (e.g. during break-times or lunch-times and also at the end of each school day) and partially open when classrooms are in use.

The guidance outlines that Carbon Dioxide (CO2) monitors can play a part in providing a useful general indication that areas/rooms may not be adequately ventilated. They can enable occupants to become familiar with the impacts of activities, outdoor weather and window openings on levels of good ventilation.  

The Department procured a sufficient number of portable CO2 monitors, to ensure that CO2 monitors will be available for use in every classroom in the country, at an estimated overall cost of €4m.

Deliveries of CO2 monitors to schools commenced in the third week of August and are expected to be completed by mid-September. In total, it involves over 35,000 CO2 monitors being distributed to primary and post-primary schools.

As of the 7^thof September 16,200 units have been delivered to schools across the country. The target remains to have all monitors delivered by the middle of September.

Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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628. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she has issued guidance in relation to awards or benefits to students for full attendance in view of the Covid-19 pandemic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42900/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Under the provisions of the Education Act 1998, the Board of Management is responsible for the governance of a school.  The Board has overall responsibility for school policies including responsibility for encouraging regular school attendance. My Department has provided guidance to schools in relation to the recording and reporting of COVID-19 related absences.

The Education Welfare Services of the Child and Family Agency (TUSLA) promotes school attendance and provides education welfare services to support and monitor children’s attendance, participation and retention in education. 

The Education Welfare Service (EWS) published “Developing the Statement of Strategy for School Attendance: Guidelines for schools” which is aimed at promoting and supporting school attendance and includes provision for rewarding students with good school attendance records. This publication is available at .