Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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451. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will recommend that all staff in educational institutions under his remit who by necessity of their work have to come into contact with students and members of the public, including teaching staff, librarians and administrators, are provided with medical grade masks in the EN14683 category; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44595/21]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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As autonomous bodies, higher and further education institutions have discretion to allocate funding towards the purchase of facemasks for staff as part of its implementation of institutional planning for the return to on-campus, in line with current public health guidance. Public health guidance in relation to the type of face coverings which can be worn can be found here - www2.hse.ie/conditions/covid19/preventing-the-spread/face-covering-types/.

Recently, the HSE advised that it had a surplus of facemasks that might be of use to the tertiary education sector in supporting the return on-site. Following liaison with the sector, my Department this week provided the necessary information to the HSE in order to facilitate its coordination and delivery of facemasks for use by staff and students in further and higher education institutions across the country. My Department and I are very appreciative of this offer from the HSE, supporting as it does, public health and the commitment of the tertiary education sector to ensure compliance with on campus mask wearing and, by extension, the continued safety of staff and students.